Chapter Text
Sunoo didn’t have any memories without his gift. “Gift.” That was what his mother insisted that it was. Sunoo used to feel that way too, but as he got older, he realized that he was actually cursed.
His earliest memories included holding his parents’ hands and feeling their love for him. Love was soft pink and gold intertwined together. It was warm and bright and smelled like flowers that had been freshly cut from a garden. He remembered hugging Jungwon for the first time, when they were both tiny and Jungwon was still too young to be able to form full sentences. Sunoo had felt Jungwon’s excitement, bright orange and electric, because he had just made his first friend. When Sunoo’s grandmother passed away, all he could feel as he touched his mother’s hand was her overwhelming grief and how it was dark gray and carried the scent of ash and rain.
He used to like his gift. If Sunoo’s hand made contact with someone else’s skin, he could feel everything they felt. He liked seeing the colors and experiencing the unique scents and feeling like he knew someone better than they knew themselves. But then he started school and grew older and he became to realize that not everyone had fond emotions toward him. He felt jealousy and irritation and anger and disgust. And when his gift was revealed to everyone, he only felt those emotions from them even more.
Sunoo started to wear gloves every day. He stopped talking to new people and only spoke with his parents and Jungwon. Occasionally he would speak with Jungwon’s older cousin, Sunghoon, but he lived in a different city, so they rarely saw each other. It was against his nature. Sunoo loved meeting new people, he loved learning about others, he loved conversations and parties, but he didn’t feel welcomed anymore. People were afraid of his gift. They didn’t want their true feelings to be revealed.
He was 21 years-old now and in the miserable process of finding a mate. Sunoo was so envious of Jungwon. He had felt the moment that Jungwon had fallen in love with Heeseung. They had been holding hands, standing in the corner during a summer ball. The night was dragging on and they both wanted to go home. Sunoo had taken Jungwon’s hand, fully ready to lead him out of the ballroom, when he saw pink and gold and felt a surge of affection from Jungwon.
Lee Heeseung had been standing on the other side of the room, his eyes locked on Jungwon and his mouth slightly agape. Sunoo thought he looked like an imbecile, but Jungwon felt nothing but endearment toward the awkward, gangly alpha.
Sunoo had spent that summer and then autumn and then winter, watching his best friend fall madly in love while he was stuck on the sidelines. His own attempts at courting had been… lackluster at best. This was why it came as no surprise to him when his parents sat him down at the dining room table one evening and told him about an absolutely awful proposal.
“He’s a king,” Sunoo’s mother said.
“And I told you that I’m not interested,” Sunoo said.
His arms were crossed over his chest and he was slouching in his chair, but he couldn’t find the energy to truly care about his less than stellar manners.
“He’s tall,” his father said.
“A lot of alphas are tall,” Sunoo said. “Most of them are, in fact. That isn’t very special.”
“He’s handsome,” his mother said.
“I think that’s up to me to decide,” Sunoo said. “Jungwon thinks that Lee Heeseung is the height of alpha attractiveness. I tend to disagree.”
“He’s rich,” his father said. The sweet tones of their voices were gone. He was speaking bluntly now. “And we don’t have any money.”
“I don’t care that he’s a tall, handsome, rich king,” Sunoo said. “I have no interest in mating with… What do you mean, we have no money?”
Sunoo stood up, his hands going to his hips as he stared at his parents. They looked at each other nervously. Sunoo was tempted to reach out and grab their hands so that he could know what they were feeling.
“Your father,” Sunoo’s mother said, “has a problem.”
“I don’t have the problem anymore, Sunoo-yah,” his father said. “I’ve fixed it.”
“You’ve only fixed it because we don’t have any money!” his mother shouted. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “He gambled everything we have away. Our savings and investments, your inheritance, even the deed to our house. We have nothing.”
His father hung his head in shame while Sunoo’s mother fixed him with a withering glare. Sunoo sat back down. He didn’t need to touch them to know what they were feeling. Their emotions were so clear now.
Sunoo felt a pit growing in his stomach. Money was something that he had never really thought about. His allowance was plentiful, they went on family trips every year, Sunoo and his mother always bought the latest fashions, their home was the biggest on their street. They had maids and a chauffeur and a private chef and Sunoo had gone through at least five nannies as a child.
He had only been expected to marry because he was an omega. Sunoo had never imagined that his parents would ever want him to marry because of money.
“A king, Sunoo,” his father said. He knelt down next to Sunoo and took his hands in his. Sunoo felt so much desperation that it made him instantly dizzy and sick. He quickly pulled his hands away. “A king wants to marry you. He requested you, Sunoo-yah. This will fix everything.”
“We’ll be out of debt,” Sunoo’s mother said. She placed her hands on Sunoo’s shoulders and looked directly into his eyes. “And you will have a handsome alpha that will make sure you won’t have to worry about anything. You’ll be made royalty!”
Royalty. The word echoed in Sunoo’s head.
He used to want to marry for love. Sunoo used to believe in soulmates. When he was a child, he would have been content to marry a stable boy or a dish washer if they were his destined mate.
Sunoo looked down at his hands and thought about the power that they held. Alphas didn’t like to be around him. They all knew of his gift. Sunoo didn’t have to touch them to know they were afraid. They were afraid of all of their darkest secrets being exposed from a single touch.
Heeseung was the only alpha who didn’t care if their hands accidentally brushed or if they bumped into each other. He had nothing to hide. All Sunoo felt when he made contact with Heeseung was a blinding feeling of undying love, devotion, and loyalty that was for Jungwon and no one else.
Jungwon and Heeseung made Sunoo still believe that true love was out there. Even if he no longer believed that it existed for him.
“What’s he the king of?” Sunoo asked. “And what’s his name?”
His parents both stared at him with wide eyes before practically lunging forward and squeezing his hands. Sunoo could feel their hope and relief.
“It’s a small island kingdom off the coast of a much larger one,” his father said. “It’ll take about a week by ship to get there. It’s called Moriumi.”
“The king’s name is Moriumi?” Sunoo asked.
“That’s the name of the kingdom,” his mother said. “The king is called Koga Yudai.”
Sunoo sighed, slumping back against his seat. He tried to imagine his life living as the royal omega bride of a king who lived on an island. If he were royalty, he would be given royal duties, wouldn’t he? He would have jobs and tasks and responsibilities. People would respect him.
He sat up a bit straighter in his chair. If this Koga Yudai had requested to marry him, then he must be interested in Sunoo and would want to treat him well. It didn’t matter if love wasn’t there. Living as a royal would give him purpose.
“Fine,” Sunoo said. “I’ll do it.”
Saving his family from crippling debt was also a good reason to marry a total stranger, Sunoo supposed.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The morning that Sunoo left his home country of Wolha was dark and dreary. It wasn’t raining currently, but he knew that rain would arrive soon. He stood on the dock, watching as his family’s servants carried boxes of his belongings onto the ship. His parents were staying behind. Apparently because of their debt, they weren’t allowed to leave the country. It was up to Sunoo to marry this mysterious king and convince him to send money to Sunoo’s parents. He hoped the king wouldn’t be insulted when Sunoo brought up the debt.
Sunoo had a feeling the man would understand though. This marriage was clearly a business transaction, even if Sunoo had no idea what he was able to give to the king. He didn’t know how he had been singled out either. Sunoo lived in a different country. He wasn’t sure if they had even met before.
The night that he had agreed to this marriage, Sunoo had read through all of his old journals. He saw no mention of anyone named Koga Yudai or even the Kingdom of Moriumi. How had this man learned of Sunoo? Perhaps his parents had sent out his portrait to every eligible alpha in the country and all of the neighboring lands. His image must have intrigued Koga Yudai.
“Hyung!”
Sunoo turned around at the sound of a familiar voice. He saw Heeseung first, since he was pushing through the crowd of people who were waiting to watch the ship set sail. Heeseung wasn’t the one who had called out to him though. Holding Heeseung’s hand was Sunoo’s most favorite person in the entire world.
His body moved before his thoughts could even keep up with what he was seeing. Sunoo raced toward Jungwon until he had his arms around him. They swayed a bit from side to side. Heeseung was holding onto Jungwon’s hand, but Sunoo pulled his hand away so that he could hold it instead.
“I told you that you didn’t have to come,” Sunoo said. “You hate crowds.”
“That’s not a good enough reason to not come,” Jungwon said. “I know we said goodbye last night, but I wanted to see you one more time.”
Last night, Sunoo and Jungwon had stayed up late in Sunoo’s bedroom. The room had been mostly bare, since his belongings had been packed away into boxes. All that was left behind was his furniture. His favorite paintings that had decorated the walls were carefully wrapped and stacked on top of each other in one of the many boxes that were now on the ship. So were all of his clothes and jewelry and books.
“Well, I won’t complain about seeing you again,” Sunoo said. He was wearing his gloves, but slipped one off his hand so that he could touch Jungwon. Sadness was the first thing he felt. It smelled like the rain that had yet to fall from the dark clouds above their heads. “You’ll come visit, won’t you? I’m sure I’ll have a grand, elaborate wedding. I want you to be there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jungwon said. “And you’ll…” His voice trailed off as he glanced up at Heeseung. A shy smile appeared on his lips and Sunoo could feel the warm glow of affection. “Come back for my wedding, right?”
“Your wedding?” Sunoo asked. “Lee Heeseung, did you propose to my Jungwon without asking for my permission first?”
“No,” Heeseung said, his cheeks turning pink. “I haven’t proposed yet, but Jungwon and I have spoken and we want to marry each other. I’m just planning the proposal and searching for the perfect ring.”
“And?” Sunoo said. He lifted an expecting eyebrow. “What else do you need to do before you propose?”
“Kim Sunoo, may I have permission to ask for Yang Jungwon’s hand in marriage?” Heeseung asked.
Sunoo couldn’t stop himself from smirking in victory. He maintained eye contact with Heeseung, but kept Jungwon’s hand held tightly in his grasp. Jungwon was radiating hope and worry and anticipation. It felt like static against his skin.
“Of course,” Sunoo said. “You make him happier than anyone else.”
Jungwon pulled him into a tight hug and Sunoo could do nothing but return it fully. He brought his gloveless hand up to Jungwon’s hair, feeling the silky locks against his fingertips. They had never been apart for so long. And the distance between them had certainly never been as far as two different countries. An ocean would be between them when the largest body of water that had separated them before was a lake or a large pond.
“I’ll write to you,” Jungwon said. “I expect plenty of letters back. I want to know all about the country and the palace and the people and your husband-to-be.”
“I won’t leave any details out,” Sunoo said.
He heard someone shout his name. Sunoo looked behind him to see a few of his servants on the ship. They were waving their arms at him. It must have been time to go.
“Good luck, hyung,” Jungwon said.
“Thank you, Won-ah,” Sunoo said. He placed his hand on Jungwon’s cheek and felt nothing but sorrow. It wasn’t a surprising feeling. Sunoo felt the exact same thing. “We’ll be together again soon.”
Sunoo gave a brief goodbye to Heeseung before pulling Jungwon into one final hug. And then he had to pull himself away from his arms. Sunoo picked up the skirt of his hanbok and then charged up the ramp that led to the ship. Once he was onboard, he turned around to see Jungwon one last time.
He waved and did his best to smile. Sunoo doubted his smile was that believable though. Even though he didn’t have a mirror, Sunoo could feel that the smile didn’t reach his eyes. In fact, he felt the stinging of tears.
Sunoo continued to wave until Jungwon was nothing but a tiny speck in the distance. His home country became smaller and smaller as well. Sunoo’s cheeks and neck were damp from tears by the time only ocean consumed his vision.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
He had never been on such a long trip. It was the worst time to realize that he was susceptible to seasickness. Sunoo spent most of the week-long journey under the ship’s deck, in the makeshift bedroom that had been set up for him. The crew all slept together in one large room while Sunoo slept by himself in a glorified closet.
At first, he was nervous to travel on his own without his parents to act as his chaperones. It was unusual for an omega, especially an unmated one, to be on their own. The crew was all respectful though. They knocked before entering his room and always offered to bring him extra food if he was still hungry after his meals. Sunoo was never still hungry. The rocking of the ship killed his appetite. He was only eating now because he simply knew that he had to eat. There was no enjoyment in it. Sunoo was looking forward to being on solid land again. He wanted to enjoy food and to get rid of this constant feeling of nausea.
Sunoo wasn’t sure if the feeling of unease would leave him though once he was off the ship. His sea sickness would go away, but his nerves would most likely stick with him. All of the confidence that he had had in front of Jungwon and his parents was starting to melt away. He was nervous again.
The existence of Koga Yudai was looming above him. Sunoo had yet to contact him directly. The proposal had been sent to his father and Sunoo’s acceptance had been sent by his father as well. He hadn’t even looked at the letter that Koga Yudai had sent. His parents said it had been short and formal. They had used the very last of their money to hire an investigator to make sure that Koga Yudai and his offer were both legitimate.
Sunoo felt the ship lurch forward in a way that was nearly violent. He grabbed the bucket that he kept on the floor next to his bed and sat it on his lap. The captain said that they would finally arrive in Moriumi today. Sunoo couldn’t wait. His desire to get off this ship was greater than his apprehension when it came to meeting the king that he was to marry.
He had gotten out of his bed that morning with a resolve that had been absent the entire past week. Sunoo had washed his face and hair and body with the last of the fresh water that had been supplied to him. He dabbed rose oil to his wrists before sliding on a pair of white gloves. The scent would just barely come through, blending with his own natural scent of ripe peaches and camellias.
Sunoo had sat on his bed with the tiny mirror that he had packed with him. He applied rouge to his cheeks and a balm to his lips to make them appear smooth and shiny. Sunoo changed into a formal hanbok, made of light pink silk and trimmed with the most delicate white lace. He thought about how much the hanbok would sell for as he dressed himself. His parents would be able to pay back part of their debt with it. That didn’t matter now though. If everything went well, he would be able to send his parents money instead of an expensive and elaborate hanbok.
The ship continued to rock, nearly making Sunoo tumble onto the floor. Sunoo hoped that was a sign that they were getting close to shore. He didn’t know what he would do if he vomited all over his nicest clothes and then had to greet the king.
A sharp knock brought his attention to his cabin’s door. Sunoo stood up and then walked toward the knocking. He kept his hands on the walls of the ship so that he could keep his balance. Sunoo opened the door to see one of the few female crew members.
“Hello, Young Master Sunoo,” she said, bowing to him. “We’re nearly to land. Would you like to head up to the deck? I can start packing up your belongings here.”
“Yes,” Sunoo said quickly as if she was going to change her mind. “Thank you for your help.”
He gave her a smile that he hoped looked kind and grateful. Sunoo didn’t want to appear sick and just barely keeping it together.
She stepped into his room and he took her place by entering the short hallway. Sunoo looked down at the end to see the wooden steps that led to the deck. He walked toward them as his palms ran across the polished and stained walls. The ship was still rocking, but he tried his best not to focus on that. Instead, Sunoo brought his attention to the voices that he heard coming from the deck.
Sailors were shouting to each other out in the open. Sunoo climbed the few steps that led into the fresh air. He was instantly assaulted by the bright sun. Sunoo grabbed the collar of his hanbok and pulled his shirt up so that it covered his head, blocking the sun.
“How are you, Young Master?”
Sunoo was standing in the middle of the deck, feeling as if he was going to collapse at any moment. The air in the cabin had been so stale and damp. Suddenly experiencing the salt air around him, as well as the blinding sun, was somehow making him feel even more nauseous.
“I think…” Sunoo said. “I should sit down.”
He felt a hand grab his elbow. Sunoo was grateful for the long sleeves of his hanbok, so that he wouldn’t be even more overwhelmed by a rush of feelings and emotions that didn’t belong to him. The owner of the hand led him to a wooden stool that was crammed up against a row of barrels. Sunoo sat down and took a deep breath.
“I take it you haven’t spent much time at sea?”
“None at all,” Sunoo said.
“Sit up straight,” the sailor said. “Try to avoid bending over.”
Sunoo nodded a bit pathetically. He hated being seen like this. Sunoo had been used to being pitied and judged for most of his life. People treated omegas like they were naïve little children, no matter what their age was. It didn’t help that Sunoo had a magical gift that made people afraid to get close to him. Sunoo hated showing any signs of weakness.
“Thank you,” Sunoo said. He might have been embarrassed, but he would never forget his manners. “What’s your name?”
Since he was sitting up now, Sunoo dared to look up at the man standing in front of him. He was surprised by what he saw. The man was young, most likely the same age as Sunoo or just a year or two older. His scent wasn’t readable because of the smell of the sea, but Sunoo didn’t get a strong sense of alpha from him. It was unlikely an omega would do this kind of work, so Sunoo assumed he was a beta.
“Sim Jaeyun,” he said.
“Do you sail often?” Sunoo asked.
“Only all of the time,” Jaeyun said with a shrug. He put his hands on top of the barrel closest to him. Jaeyun looked out at the sea with a wistful expression. Sunoo almost wished that he could touch him now so that he could read his feelings. Maybe Jaeyun’s love for sailing and wonder of the ocean would make Sunoo less sick. “We’ll be staying in Moriumi for about a week, and then we’ll be off again.”
“Where are you going next?” Sunoo asked.
“I’m not sure,” Jaeyun said. “But I don’t mind the mystery. That’s what makes it fun.”
Sunoo definitely did not agree. He didn’t say that out loud though. Sunoo closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, but he decided that having his eyes closed didn’t help at all. If anything, it only made the swaying and rocking of the boat seem even worse.
“Maybe I should have stayed down in the cabin,” Sunoo said, mostly to himself.
Jaeyun didn’t respond, so he must not have heard him. Sunoo took another deep breath just as Jaeyun put his hand on Sunoo’s shoulder. The contact made Sunoo jump in his seat.
“Look! There it is,” Jaeyun said. “We’re here.”
Despite his strong desire to stay seated and unmoving, Sunoo’s longing for solid land was even stronger. He slowly stood up on his shaking legs and turned, holding onto a barrel for support. In the distance was an island, but the island itself wasn’t the most eye catching sight.
Right on the beach was a castle. It was built of white stone and seemed so tall that it went up into the clouds overhead. Sunoo’s grip on the barrel got even tighter. Was that where King Yudai lived? Would Sunoo be living there too?
It was beautiful. The closer they got to the castle, the more of the island that Sunoo could see. He could see how big the island was now. It took up the entire horizon. There were more buildings, built from the same white stone. The sun reflected off of the stone, making the castle and surrounding buildings look like they were sparkling. On the edge of the city were tall trees, creating a green forest that seemed to go on forever.
“Have you been to Moriumi before?” Sunoo asked once he had found his voice.
“A few times,” Jaeyun said. “It’s amazing.”
“What’s amazing about it?” Sunoo asked.
“Do you really want me to tell you?” Jaeyun said. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“No,” Sunoo said. He sat back down on his stool. “I suppose I wouldn’t want you to spoil the surprise either. But… it is a good surprise, isn’t it? Do you think I would like living here?”
“You’ll love it,” Jaeyun said. His response came so quickly and easily. “The first time I visited, I didn’t want to leave. You’ll see what I mean when we arrive.”
Sunoo certainly hoped that Jaeyun was right about that.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The ship eventually reached the shore of Moriumi. They docked and Sunoo chose to stay on the ship, watching the servants carry all of his belongings. The sailors were talking excitedly among themselves as they headed into the city. Sunoo continued to sit on his stool, twisting his hands together.
He would have to stand eventually. They had arrived at a harbor that was full of at least 20 other ships. He could hear the shouts of sailors from other boats. The sounds from below, in the city, were full of people talking and walking and laughing. He could hear the wheels of carriages against cobblestones.
“Are you ready?” Jaeyun asked.
Sunoo’s favorite sailor had been kind enough to wait for him. He had stayed behind, despite being told to hurry up by the others.
“I suppose,” Sunoo said. “I think it’s finally sinking in. I’m not home anymore. I’m far away from my family and friends. I’m going to marry a man that I’ve never met.”
“I wish I could say something that would ease your worries,” Jaeyun said. “But, I have to admit that what you’re going through is really scary. I don’t think I would be brave enough to do the same.”
“I wouldn’t call myself brave,” Sunoo said. “I’m doing this because I have to.”
“Exactly,” Jaeyun said. “You’re doing it out of duty, despite your fears. I think that’s very brave.”
Jaeyun reached his hand out, offering it to Sunoo. This was it. There was no heading back. Sunoo’s parents had paid for a one-way trip for him. He had to get off the ship here.
Sunoo took Jaeyun’s hand. He almost wished that he wasn’t wearing his gloves so that he could sense what Jaeyun was feeling. Was he really as optimistic as he appeared, or was that just a front? Sunoo doubted they would ever see each other again, so he supposed that he would never know.
They went to the top of the ramp that had been set up at the edge of the ship. Jaeyun helped Sunoo step onto it. He was ready to walk down when he was instantly greeted by the sounds of horns playing. Sunoo was frozen in place. Below him was a full band, dressed in dark blue and golden uniforms. They played a bright, jovial tune as Sunoo watched in shock.
Joining the band were dancers, wearing pale pink gowns. They circled the band, throwing fistfuls of flower petals into the air. A huge crowd had surrounded the harbor and everyone in it was staring right at him. Sunoo looked over his shoulder to see Jaeyun.
“I thought that might be for you,” Jaeyun said. He scratched the back of his neck and raised his voice so that Sunoo could hear him. The band was so loud. “I should have warned you.”
“Yes, you should have!” Sunoo said.
He brought his attention back to the elaborate show in front of him. The crowd had started to part. Men dressed in the same uniform as the band created the path. Sunoo took a few steps down the ramp and people gasped, as if they couldn’t believe he was capable of walking on his own.
Once he was halfway down the ramp, Sunoo saw the reason the crowd had parted. Walking right toward him was a man who was nearly a head taller than Sunoo. He had dark hair that reached his chin. His eyes and lips were both smiling at him. Sunoo’s heart thudded loudly in his chest. The man was clearly an alpha. His head was held high and his posture was perfect and confidence and power seemed to surround him. The people in the crowd, as well as the performers, bowed to him as he passed by.
Sunoo glanced up to see a thin golden crown sitting atop his head. This could be no one but Koga Yudai. Unless of course King Yudai had siblings and this was a prince, not the king who Sunoo was supposed to marry. Sunoo felt a twinge of disappointment at that thought. The man in front of him was so handsome.
“Kim Sunoo,” the man said once he had joined Sunoo on the ramp. “I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
He took Sunoo’s gloved hand in his and bent down, kissing his knuckles. Sunoo felt himself instantly flush. No alpha that Sunoo had ever met had been so… forward.
“I’m happy to be here,” Sunoo said. “I’ve recently discovered that I don’t enjoy sea travel.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. “I am Koga Yudai. I hope that I don’t disappoint.”
Sunoo wasn’t sure how this man could ever disappoint anyone. He didn’t like to think that he was shallow, but Sunoo certainly always imagined his future mate as tall and handsome. Yudai perfectly embodied the ideal alpha that had only existed in his head.
He wasn’t going to say that so boldly though.
“I think it would be best for us to get to know each other,” Sunoo said, “before I decide whether I am disappointed or not.”
There were a few gasps from the crowd. Sunoo felt a small lump form in his throat. Had he said the wrong thing? Yudai was a king, after all. Would Sunoo be scolded for talking to him in such a way?
His panic was short-lived. Yudai’s smile became even wider, and then it shifted into a playful smirk that had Sunoo’s pulse increasing.
“You make an excellent point,” Yudai said. “I want to get to know you too. I want to know everything about you.”
“There isn’t much to know,” Sunoo said.
“I’m still looking forward to learning it all though,” Yudai said. He then took a step forward so that he was standing next to Sunoo instead of in front of him. Yudai offered him his arm. “Come with me. I’ll show you the city before we head to the palace.”
Sunoo would have preferred to go to the palace first, mostly so he could rest. But Yudai’s infectious smile had somehow convinced him that a trip around the city wouldn’t be the worst use of his time. Sunoo placed his hand on Yudai’s arm and then let him guide their way down the ramp and into the city.
The crowd parted for both of them, and Sunoo tried his best to make eye contact with everyone he passed. They all bowed to him and then whispered excitedly behind his back. It was a level of attention that Sunoo wasn’t used to. His family had been wealthy, so he was used to attending elaborate balls and parties. Sunoo had gained a bit of attention during those times, but the public finding out about his gift had only made people start to ignore him.
He tried not to think about what would happen when the people of Moriumi discovered his gift. Sunoo definitely didn’t know what he would do if Yudai found out about it. Most people saw Sunoo’s power as an invasion of privacy. Would Yudai call off the wedding if he knew? He definitely wouldn’t be willing to send Sunoo’s family money if that happened.
Once the crowd finally dispersed a bit, they reached a carriage that was parked on the road. Yudai helped Sunoo up into it before joining him on the bench. Sunoo smiled at him briefly and then he turned his head to look out at the city. The carriage began to move and it wasn’t long until Sunoo understood the “surprise” that Jaeyun had warned him about.
He had expected to see plenty of tall buildings, beautiful houses, well dressed people, and water fountains and statues and trees and flowers and everything that made a city like this one come to life. All of those elements were present, but they weren’t what captured Sunoo’s attention. What Sunoo hadn’t expected were the many canals running through the city, alongside the streets. Water from the ocean continued to flow into town. People traveled on horseback or in carriages, but also on boats. Sunoo had never seen anything like it.
“It’s so beautiful,” Sunoo said, not even attempting to keep the awe out of his voice.
“I’m glad you like it,” Yudai said. “This city is the capital of Moriumi, but it’s just a small part of the country. Most of the land is taken over by the Great Forest.”
Yudai pointed above them. Over the city limits was a wall of towering green trees.
“Is the forest dangerous?” Sunoo asked.
“Dangerous?” Yudai said. He laughed a bit. “Of course not. There isn’t a single piece of land in Moriumi that can be considered dangerous. People live in the forest just like they live in the city. I grew up in the Great Forest.”
“You did?” Sunoo said. “But, you were a prince before you were a king, weren’t you? I assumed you would have been raised in the palace.”
“I wasn’t first in line for the throne,” Yudai said. “My older brother spent his time in the palace with our father, the former king. I was raised by my mother in her hometown, deep in the forest. Our parents separated when I was very young.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sunoo said.
“There’s no need to be sorry,” Yudai said. “They married out of duty instead of love. Now that I’m older, I’m not surprised that it didn’t work out.”
Sunoo nodded in understanding, and then immediately thought of the situation they were in now. They were engaged, but it wasn’t because they were in love. Sunoo knew nothing about Yudai, and he knew that Yudai couldn’t know anything about him. Even if Yudai had somehow learned of his existence and requested for Sunoo to be his mate, it wasn’t like they had spoken to each other before today.
Was Yudai expecting their marriage to end in the same way his parents’ marriage did? After Sunoo gave him heirs, would he be expected to return to Wolha?
“Why were you given the crown?” Sunoo asked. “If your brother was meant to be the next king?”
Sunoo had done some research about Moriumi and the royal family before he left for his journey here. Yudai’s father had passed away a few years ago from a sudden illness. Sunoo hadn’t found any information about his brother though.
“He ran away,” Yudai said. “He got onto a ship one morning and left. The only thing he left behind was a letter explaining that he didn’t want to be king. Palace guards came to my home that day and brought me to my father. I was given the title of crown prince.”
“It must have felt so sudden,” Sunoo said. “Did you have any apprehension about it?”
It was strange. Sunoo should have been taking in the incredible landscape around them. He should have been looking at the sparkling canals, the people of the city, and all of its landmarks. His eyes were focused on Yudai though. If he had to convince this man to marry him, and not send him away to his home country after having a few children, then he needed Yudai to fall madly in love with him.
There would be time for exploring the city later. Ideally, Sunoo would have the rest of his life to memorize it and learn all of its secrets.
“I did at first,” Yudai said. “But I’ve accepted it now.”
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
They arrived at the palace after circling the city for nearly an hour. Sunoo had been ready to rest, but he found himself becoming nervous as they approached the gates to the castle grounds. Yudai had told him during their carriage ride that his mother still lived in the forest. Sunoo surmised that he wasn’t going to meet any of Yudai’s family today. He wouldn’t have to impress any future in-laws. It would just be the two of them.
Guards opened up the gates and they passed through. Sunoo looked around at the vast lawn that led up to the palace. There was a pond in the distance, as well as several gardens that were all bursting with flowers. The road to the palace was lined with cherry blossom trees that were fully in bloom.
It was like something out of a fairytale.
When they arrived at the entrance, Yudai exited first. He went to Sunoo’s side of the carriage and opened his door before offering his hand. Sunoo stepped down and was grateful to feel the solid ground under his feet. After so much time on a ship and then in a carriage, it was a relief to be able to walk again.
He looked up at the palace, instantly feeling tiny. Sunoo had never seen a building this beautiful before. That seemed to be the theme for his entire experience in Moriumi so far. The city was beautiful, the people were beautiful, the palace was beautiful, the king… was beautiful.
Sunoo’s hand was starting to feel a bit too comfortable on the crook of Yudai’s arm. He had to silently remind himself to always stay alert and aware. Sunoo had goals. He couldn’t get swept away in how romantic and ethereal this experience was.
“I knew they’d be waiting for you,” Yudai said.
They had only just stepped into the entrance hall of the palace. Sunoo’s head had tilted backward so that he could take in the ginormous chandelier about their heads. The floor was marble and so were the double staircases that were at the end of the hall. Fresh flowers were in vases that were fixed into the walls. The scent created an amazing perfume.
It was only after he stopped focusing on the interior of the room, that he realized who Yudai was talking about. There were nine people standing in a single line in the middle of the room. Their shoulders were touching and they were all dressed in a variety of clothing. Sunoo knew just from a glance that none of them were palace guards or members of the staff.
“We’ve been waiting for a while now,” one of them said.
“I wanted to take my time,” Yudai said with a shrug. “You didn’t have to wait.”
“Of course we had to,” the stranger said. “We’ve all been looking forward to meeting your future mate.” The man had a deep voice and a handsome smile. He was taller than Sunoo, but not as tall as Yudai. “I’m Murata Fuma.”
He bowed to Sunoo. It was a bow at a perfect 90 degree angle. Sunoo quickly returned it. He didn’t want to appear rude in front of the first people he was meeting by name.
“Fuma is my advisor,” Yudai said. “And best friend. He lives on the palace grounds with his two mates.”
Yudai gestured to two of the others who were lined up. They stepped forward and Sunoo couldn’t help but to glance between the three of them. Sunoo had never met three people who were mated together. Fuma had the very distinct presence of a typical alpha. Out of the other two, only one of them was easy to read. The tallest of the three had big eyes and a sweet smile. Sunoo would have known that he was an omega just from that, but the two bite marks on his neck helped. As well as his rounded stomach.
The third person was harder for Sunoo to place. He was the shortest, but had sharp and intense features. Sunoo didn’t think he was an omega, but beta and alpha seemed to be equally likely.
“Byun Euijoo, my omega,” Fuma said, smiling proudly. He placed his hand on the small of Euijoo’s back. “And Wang Yixiang, my mate as well.”
Euijoo and Yixiang both bowed to Sunoo. When Yixiang bent, Sunoo could see into the collar of his shirt. He had a mating bite as well, but only one. He must be a beta; the mark had to be Fuma’s.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Sunoo said. “Congratulations, Euijoo-ssi.”
He gestured to Euijoo’s stomach. Everyone had been speaking to him in his own language so far. It seemed that Yudai and his acquaintances were fluent in it. Sunoo was almost embarrassed that he hadn’t studied Moriumi’s language, but it wasn’t like he had had much time to prepare for his departure.
“Thank you,” Euijoo said. “We’re actually from the same country.”
“Really?” Sunoo said. “You’re from Wolha, too?”
“I am,” Euijoo said. “I came here when I turned 18, four years ago.”
They made small talk for a minute or two. It was a short conversation, but it was enough to make Sunoo homesick. He missed his parents and his friends. Sunoo wondered if he would ever stop missing them.
Next in line was a pretty omega with a mischievous glint in his eyes and particularly sharp canines that Sunoo saw when he smiled. He introduced himself as Nakakita Yuma.
“He lives in the palace,” Yudai said.
“You do?” Sunoo said. He felt a pit start to grow in his stomach. Was he Yudai’s cousin perhaps? Why would an unmated omega live in the home of a bachelor? “How long have you two lived… together?”
Sunoo’s worry was starting to grow, but it was quickly extinguished once he heard Yuma laugh. His laughter was so loud and unrestrained. Sunoo had never heard an omega laugh like that before.
“We don’t live together like that,” Yuma said.
“Yuma and I grew up in the same village in the forest,” Yudai said. “He has no family, so I offered to let him live here when I accepted the role as crown prince. He’s like my little brother. They all are.”
Yudai smiled at the rest of his friends. There were five more that Sunoo hadn’t been introduced to. Next in line were a tall alpha and the tiniest omega. They were holding hands and the omega had a courting collar around his neck.
“Asakura Jo,” Yudai said, nodding to the alpha, “and Shigeta Harua. They’re getting mated next week.”
“Congratulations,” Sunoo said. Yudai had a pregnant friend and a soon to be married couple living with him. Sunoo supposed he could mention how Jungwon was due to be engaged to Heeseung any day now. “You must be so excited.”
“We are,” Harua said. His voice sounded exactly like Sunoo thought it would. It was light and sweet and airy. “You’ll attend, won’t you?”
“Of course,” Sunoo said. “I love weddings.”
He glanced up at Yudai. Their eyes met and Sunoo felt himself flush. Very soon he would be thinking about his own wedding, if everything went according to plan.
The last three were all introduced at once. They were three young men who were all single, according to Yudai. And they had the same name.
“Takayama Riki,” Yudai said, putting his hand on the shoulder of the trio’s beta. “Nishimura Riki.” He was a tall, lanky alpha with a blank look on his face. “And, our youngest, Mauss Riki.” The youngest was an alpha as well. Yudai stood by his side and put his arm around Mauss Riki’s shoulders. “Taki, Niki, and Maki, if that helps.”
It did help. Very much.
“And you’re all… King Yudai’s family?” Sunoo asked. “Like, his adopted brothers.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Yudai said. “They all live in the palace, except for Fuma, Yixiang, and Euijoo. They moved into a manor on the palace grounds. It’s not a far walk from here. Jo and Harua will be moving into a home of their own once they’re mated.”
“That’s so nice,” Sunoo said. “I’m an only child. I’ve only ever lived with my parents. Being a part of a big family has always seemed so fun to me.”
“Well,” Yudai said. “I don’t mind sharing. This family will be yours soon.”
The grin on his face was a little too proud of himself. Sunoo heard the others groan and jeer at the lame line. He didn’t join in though. Sunoo felt his lips lift into a smile all on their own. He liked the idea of having a big family. It would be fun, having so many new siblings.
“I’m sure you’re exhausted from your trip,” Euijoo said. “I heard that Yudai-hyung made you tour the city as well.”
“Why would you word it like that?” Yudai asked. “I didn’t force him to do anything.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Euijoo said. He rolled his eyes and it was the most polite eye rolling that Sunoo had ever seen. “Let me take you upstairs. I’ll show you your quarters.”
Sunoo glanced at Yudai who nodded with a smile, telling him without words to follow Euijoo. Before he left, Sunoo didn’t forget his manners. He said goodbye to them all. Sunoo was going to bow to Yudai as well, but he took Sunoo’s hand again. Yudai kissed his knuckles, and then led him to the staircase.
“You should rest now,” Yudai said. “I’ll see you at dinner. Then afterwards, we can talk. I’m sure you have a lot that you want to ask me.”
“I do,” Sunoo said. There were a million questions that he wanted to ask Yudai, but he supposed he could narrow the list down to a top ten tonight. “Thank you for picking me up at the harbor, Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need to thank me for that,” Yudai said. “And please, Sunoo, just call me by my name. You don’t have to use my title to address me.”
“All right,” Sunoo said. “Yudai-hyung.”
“Good enough,” Yudai said.
Euijoo led him up the grand staircase, with Yuma and Harua following along. Once they reached the top, Sunoo looked down to see Yudai talking with his friends. They were all smiling and laughing together. It made him feel a bit at ease, seeing how affectionate Yudai was with them.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
Sunoo didn’t talk much on the way to his bedroom. He was too busy taking in the hallways of the palace. Never in his life had Sunoo ever felt so small. The palace was so grand. He was worried about getting lost. Sunoo wondered if Yudai would laugh at him if he asked for a map.
The floors were all stained dark wood. As they walked, there were no creaks or cracks or uneven spots. Everything was immaculate. The walls were painted a dark green, reminding Sunoo of the forest that consumed most of Moriumi. He passed a few paintings as well. Some were of landscapes, but most were royal portraits. Sunoo couldn’t help but wonder if Yudai had a portrait as well. He would like to see it.
“Here we are,” Euijoo said. He stopped at the end of a hallway on either the third or fourth floor. Sunoo had lost count of how many stairwells they had ascended. “These are your quarters. Yudai-hyung lives on the other end of the hall. So, you’re not too far from each other.”
It was a relief, knowing that Sunoo would have his own private space. He wondered if that would change once he was officially mated to Yudai.
Euijoo opened a set of double doors. He led them inside of the spacious room. Sunoo followed and instantly felt his mouth open in surprise. It was a totally involuntary reflex. This wasn’t just one room; it was multiple rooms. Sunoo thought that there had to be a mistake. Surely this all couldn’t belong to him?
A sitting room was what he saw first. The room was circular and the ceiling was made of glass. Sunoo looked up to see the sun shining brightly overhead. The walls were glass as well. Two doors led out onto a balcony. Sunoo could see the ocean in front of him.
In the sitting room was a plush white rug as well as a pair of armchairs and a couch. There was a shelf full of books and a desk too. Euijoo took him into the next room. Thankfully, these walls were all opaque. It was the bathroom. Sunoo liked the windows in the sitting room, but he liked to have his privacy here.
The tub in the middle of the room was big enough to hold two people. On the vanity was an array of creams and soaps and oils and perfumes, as well as a collection of makeup. It seemed that they didn’t know what kind of products Sunoo used, so one of everything imaginable had been purchased.
Predictably, the final room was the bedroom. The large bed was fitting with silk sheets and at least 20 pillows. There was a wardrobe on one side of the room and a door that led to a huge closet. Inside the closet were all the boxes that held Sunoo’s belongings. The crew from the ship must have brought them here while Yudai had shown Sunoo the city. His things looked so small in this room.
“So, what do you think?” Harua asked.
Sunoo sat down on the edge of the bed. The mattress felt perfectly plush underneath him. He was already looking forward to sleeping for as long as possible tonight.
“It’s amazing,” Sunoo said. “Everything has been so… amazing.”
“Even us?” Yuma said. He joined Sunoo on the bed. “And Yudai?”
“I’m not sure yet, honestly,” Sunoo said. “We haven’t really gotten a chance to know each other. This is so much more than I expected.”
“Would you like to be alone?” Euijoo asked. “Whenever I get overwhelmed, I like being by myself. It helps me to think and calm down.”
“I don’t want to be rude,” Sunoo said.
Euijoo smiled and Sunoo briefly wondered if he had a magical gift as well. His smile easily soothed Sunoo’s worries. The sight of it made him feel more relaxed than he had all day.
“It’s not rude to want your privacy,” Euijoo said. “They’ll send a maid for you when it’s close to dinner time. If you want to see more of the castle before then, ask a maid to show you the library. That’s where I’ll be.”
“Thank you,” Sunoo said.
The three of them left. Once the door to his quarters was closed, Sunoo realized that he was finally alone. He hadn’t been alone in over a week. Even though his room on the ship had been private, the sounds of the sailors were too loud and too constant for him to feel like he was by himself.
Sunoo walked to the balcony doors. He opened them and stepped outside. The breeze from the sea greeted him. It carried the heavy scent of salt. Sunoo looked up to see seagulls flying across the blue sky. He gripped his hands on the balcony’s railing.
After taking a few deep breaths, Sunoo felt his panic that had been growing throughout the day, start to retreat. He knew what he needed to do. Sunoo was going to be charming and witty. He was going to be flirtatious and bold and intelligent. Yudai seemed to like that. Sunoo didn’t think he was the type to want a mate who was quiet, submissive, and shy. That worked just fine for Sunoo. He could be shy when first meeting people, but he knew exactly what to do to become a total social butterfly.
Sunoo left the balcony and went into the sitting room. A stack of paper as well as envelopes, blank journals, and a collection of pens were stocked in the desk. Sunoo grabbed a paper and pen. He was going to write a letter to his parents, letting them know of his arrival. And then he would write one to Jungwon, informing him of his arrival and every single detail of what he had experienced today.
He wrote the letters as quickly as he could. The bed in the other room was practically calling out to him, beckoning him into a warm cocoon of silk. Once the letters were sealed in envelopes, Sunoo went to the bedroom. He took off his gloves and hanbok and shoes and then slipped into bed. Sunoo hadn’t changed into a nightgown or pajama set. He stayed in his undergarments as he curled into the sheets. They smelled faintly floral. Sunoo wondered if they had been spritzed in perfume, or if that was the fragrance of the soap that was used to wash them.
Those thoughts didn’t linger for too long in his head. Sunoo felt his body become heavy. His eyelids were too weighed down to move. Just a few more seconds of conscious thoughts passed before Sunoo fell into a deep sleep.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
When a hand touched his shoulder, shaking him gently, Sunoo’s eyes shot open. He inhaled so sharply that he felt a bit lightheaded.
“I’m sorry to disturb you,” a soft voice said. “It’s dinner time, Young Master Sunoo.”
Sunoo looked around the room. The window showed the setting sun. He sat up in bed and looked to his side to see an older female omega. She was smiling at him in a way that was both patient and apologetic.
“Thank you for waking me,” Sunoo said.
“Would you like me to help you get ready for dinner?” she asked.
“Um.” Sunoo was still a bit disorientated. He had to remind himself that he was in the palace, in a land where he had no one but himself. His parents weren’t waiting for him downstairs. He was on his own now. “Yes. That would be nice.”
The maid smiled at him. Sunoo got out of bed and was reminded that he was only dressed in his undergarments. She didn’t seem to mind though. The maid led him into the bathroom where she turned on the faucet of the tub.
“I’ll pick out an outfit for you to wear,” she said. “Do you have anything in particular that you’d like?”
“No,” Sunoo said, shaking his head. “Just choose whatever you feel is suitable. As well as a pair of gloves please.”
If she offered to help him bathe, he would have to decline the offer. She had only touched the fabric of his undershirt. If she touched his bare skin, his gift would be activated.
When she returned, the bathtub was over halfway full. She tested the temperature of the water and then gestured for him to get in. Sunoo quickly undressed himself, not even giving her the chance to offer to help.
The bath was over soon after it had begun. Sunoo would have loved to soak in the hot water for as long as he could, but he didn’t want to be late to dinner. After bathing, he took the towel from the maid and dried himself before putting on a robe.
“I could style your hair for you, if you’d like,” she said.
“No,” Sunoo said, speaking a bit too fast. “I can do it myself. I appreciate all of your help.”
She bowed to him and then left the bathroom. Sunoo sat down in front of the vanity. His cheeks were flushed from the hot bathwater. He pressed his fingers against his skin and sighed. This was only the first day. Sunoo would have to manage to survive thousands more. He couldn’t allow himself to become so overwhelmed when his life here had barely started.
Sunoo styled his hair as best as he could and then applied the smallest amount of makeup. He didn’t want to overdo it and come across too strong. The clothes that the maid had chosen for him weren’t too flashy. Sunoo checked his appearance once more in the mirror before changing into the pale yellow dress that she had chosen for him. He put on a pair of white wrist gloves and then left the bathroom.
“Oh,” the maid said, looking at him with bright eyes. “You’re stunning, Young Master.”
His instincts told him to look at the floor out of shyness, but Sunoo remembered the personality he was trying to take on. He wasn’t going to be a soft spoken and insecure omega.
“Thank you,” Sunoo said. He made direct eye contact with her and spoke clearly. “Shall we head downstairs now? You’ll have to lead the way. This place is like a maze.”
“The palace is very large,” she agreed as they walked into the hallway. “You’ll get used to it though. No area is off limits to you, so do as much exploring as you’d like. King Yudai wants you to be comfortable.”
“He’s very kind, isn’t he?” Sunoo said. “Do you like working for him?”
“I do,” she said. “I’ve served the royal family for many decades. King Yudai’s father could be a bit… difficult at times. I was thinking about retiring before King Yudai took the throne.”
“Are you still going to retire soon?” Sunoo asked.
“Within the next few years,” she said. “I was going to retire right away, but King Yudai is wonderful. I wanted to be able to serve him for my last years of service. I’m glad he’s found a mate. He’s getting to the age where I was starting to worry that he would never marry.”
Sunoo looked into his memory, finding the information that he had learned about Koga Yudai during his research. He was 27 years-old. Yudai was six years older than Sunoo. He didn’t think 27 years-old was too old to get mated. It seemed like an appropriate age to Sunoo. His own age was the one that felt too young.
When they reached the main hall, Sunoo let the maid guide him down a long hallway. He tried to memorize the path from his bedroom to here, but he had given up after too many turns and too many staircases.
They entered a dining room where a large rectangular table took up the majority of the space. Yudai was already there, as well as most of his live-in companions. Sunoo did a quick headcount and saw that Euijoo and his two mates were missing.
“Sunoo,” Yudai said. He stood up and everyone followed, standing to greet him as well. “How do you like your quarters? Were you able to rest?”
“I was,” Sunoo said. After approaching Yudai first, Sunoo was the one to offer him his hand. Yudai smiled before bowing to kiss Sunoo’s knuckles. “I fell asleep so quickly. I was so comfortable that I was considering missing dinner.”
“We can’t have that,” Yudai said. He pulled out the chair that was next to his own. Sunoo took a seat. “You have to stay well fed.”
“I have no arguments against that,” Sunoo said. “I’m excited to try some of Moriumi’s cuisine.”
“Hopefully you won’t be disappointed,” Yudai said. “We’re right next to the sea, so there’s plenty of seafood.”
“My favorite,” Sunoo said, casting Yudai what he hoped was a playful grin.
The first course arrived and Sunoo found himself brought into a conversation with Yuma and Harua. He soon learned that Yuma was a year younger than him and Harua was two years younger. It was a difficult truth to wrap his head around. Harua was only 19 and yet he was ready to get married.
“Jo and I have known each other since we were children,” Harua said. “I always knew he would be the one for me.”
He shrugged his shoulders and spoke with such simplicity it was like he just said that the sky was blue. Yuma made a fake gagging sound, causing Harua to shove his arm. The two ended up laughing and Sunoo suddenly missed Jungwon. He wished his best friend could be by his side. This huge change his life had taken would be so much easier if he had Jungwon with him.
“That’s so romantic,” Sunoo said.
“Well, I think you and Yudai have an even more romantic story,” Harua said.
Yuma elbowed him in the side and shushed him. Harua seemed confused, like he couldn’t understand why Yuma didn’t want him to speak. Sunoo was just as confused, but likely for a different reason.
“Don’t do that,” Yuma said.
“Do what?” Harua said. “Oh! You’re right. It’s Yudai-hyung, isn’t it? I keep forgetting the honorific.”
Sunoo got the sense that that wasn’t what Yuma was upset about. Yuma rolled his eyes and then leaned toward Harua, whispering in his ear. Sunoo couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he imagined that even if he did, it wouldn’t be spoken in a language that he could understand.
He continued to eat, but his mind was stuck on Harua’s comment. How was his relationship with Yudai more romantic than Jo and Harua’s? It didn’t make any sense to Sunoo. Childhood friends to lovers was much more romantic than an arranged marriage without love. Perhaps Harua was an avid romance novel enthusiast and arranged marriage was his favorite trope.
“Are you enjoying the food?” Yudai asked.
His voice brought Sunoo out of his thoughts. He glanced up at Yudai who was gazing at Sunoo with so much fondness in his eyes that it made Sunoo nervous. No alpha had ever looked at him like that before.
“It’s very good,” Sunoo said.
He was eating some of the best food he’d ever had. The fish was so fresh, the herbs and sauces were unlike anything he’d ever tried before, and everything was seasoned to perfection. There wasn’t a single bland bite. Sunoo felt like he had to restrain himself from eating too quickly. He didn’t want to appear unmannered in front of a king.
“Good,” Yudai said. “I’m glad. If you try anything that you’d like more of, just ask. You can have as much as you like.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sunoo said, bowing his head to him.
“What did I say about calling me that?” Yudai said.
Sunoo feared for a moment that he had made a mistake. Yudai was smiling at him though and he couldn’t sense any sort of disappointment or annoyance.
“Thank you, hyung,” Sunoo said.
All of their conversations so far had been about topics that had nothing to do with them. In the carriage, Yudai had told Sunoo all about the capital city of Moriumi. He had spoken about his family briefly, but never went in depth. Now, they were discussing the food they were currently eating. Sunoo wondered if they were going to have an actual conversation after dinner. Would Yudai answer all of his burning questions? Sunoo certainly hoped so.
The final course was dessert. Sunoo was feeling too full to even consider eating it. He wondered if it would be too rude to deny it. A server appeared next to him though, carefully setting a small dish in front of him. It was custard with dark chocolate curls on top as well as a sprig of mint.
Sunoo picked up his spoon and took a small bite and was delighted to taste mint in the custard as well. He loved the combination of mint and chocolate. Sunoo glanced around to see if everyone had gotten the same dessert. He knew that mint and chocolate together was hated by many people. His own father couldn’t understand why Sunoo loved it so much.
Everyone seemed to have gotten a different flavor of custard. Some had strawberry or raspberry or orange, there was chocolate as well. Sunoo didn’t see anyone else with the same dessert as him. He wondered if it was just good luck that he had gotten the one that he adored.
“Would you accompany me to the parlor?” Yudai asked once Sunoo had scraped his bowl clean. “We have so much to talk about.”
“Yes, Your Ma – hyung,” Sunoo said.
Yudai stood first and offered Sunoo his hand. Sunoo took it and then let Yudai lead him out of the dining hall. Two guards followed them at a short distance. Sunoo imagined that it was difficult to be a king. He had to be protected at all times, even in his own home.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Yudai said once they entered a small room at the end of the hallway. “Would you like something to drink?”
Sunoo looked at Yudai to see that he was standing next to a drink cart. He must have been offering Sunoo something alcoholic. Sunoo had never had alcohol before. His parents said that it was unbecoming for an omega.
“No, thank you,” Sunoo said.
He sat down on a loveseat that was covered in deep red velvet. Sunoo wanted to take his gloves off so that he could feel the fabric, but he decided to keep them on. It was safer that way.
“Do you mind if I have one?” Yudai asked.
“Not at all,” Sunoo said.
While Yudai poured himself a drink, Sunoo looked around the room. The rest of the furniture was covered in the same fabric as the loveseat. A grand piano was also present. Did Yudai know how to play?
“I won’t keep you long tonight,” Yudai said. “I’m sure you’re still tired and in need of more rest.”
“I’ve had a very long day,” Sunoo said. “I can’t believe that just this morning I was on a huge ship, sailing across the ocean.”
“I should thank you for that,” Yudai said. “Thank you for taking the long journey to come see me.”
“Well, I had to come,” Sunoo said. “You gave me an offer that I just had to accept. Even though… I’m not sure why you gave me the offer. I don’t even know how you know of my existence. Have we met before? I’m sorry if we have. I usually have a very good memory, especially when it comes to meeting new people, but I don’t have any memory of you.”
Sunoo hoped that his words weren’t coming across as rude. He didn’t think that they were. Yudai seemed like the type to be able to have an actual conversation with omegas, unlike plenty of other alphas who always needed to be in control of everything.
“We have met before, actually,” Yudai said. “But I don’t blame you for not remembering. I was very different when we met.”
Yudai’s words did nothing to put Sunoo at ease. He curled his hands in the skirt of his dress and hoped he didn’t look too nervous.
“I’m so sorry for not remembering,” Sunoo said, bowing his head slightly.
He tried his best to look through his memory. Even if Yudai had been “different” when they had met before, Sunoo still believed he would remember meeting royalty. Perhaps it had happened before Yudai had become crown prince and then king? But Yudai had always been royalty, even if he hadn’t been first in line for the throne. Sunoo couldn’t understand how this could have slipped from his memory.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Yudai said. He knelt down in front of Sunoo on the floor and took one of Sunoo’s gloved hands in his. “I would be shocked if you actually remembered me. We didn’t speak to each other.”
“That… still doesn’t explain how you know me,” Sunoo said.
“Let’s just say that we met very briefly and I was enchanted,” Yudai said. “You were so…” The corner of Yudai’s mouth lifted into a smile. It was incredibly soft. Sunoo wanted to reach out and touch it. “Kind. I appreciate kindness.”
“I appreciate it too,” Sunoo said.
“I was also drawn to you for another reason,” Yudai said. “I’m not sure who the god of choice is in Wolha, but in Moriumi, we worship the Moon Goddess.”
“Oh,” Sunoo said. He was a bit thrown off. The conversation turning to religion hadn’t been expected. “Most people in Wolha worshipped the God of the Harvest. My family does too, but… to be honest, I’m not very religious.”
Sunoo kept his voice soft, like he was whispering a shameful secret. His tone only made Yudai’s smile deepen.
“That’s all right,” Yudai said. “I have moments where I’m not very religious either.” He stood up and then took a seat next to Sunoo. Yudai didn’t drop his hand. The warmth of his skin felt like it was burning through Sunoo’s glove. “The Moon Goddess is interesting though. She has prophecies and she gives gifts to people.”
“Gifts?” Sunoo said. His voice sounded even tinier than it had before. “What kind of gifts?”
“The kind that I’m sure you know plenty about,” Yudai said. “May I take off your gloves?”
A lump had formed in Sunoo’s throat. His heart pounded against his chest. Sunoo heard a sharp ringing in his ears.
“I’d rather keep them on,” Sunoo said, sliding his hand out of Yudai’s hold.
“That’s perfectly fine,” Yudai said. “I just wanted to tell you that I know about your gift. I heard rumors about it when I was in Wolha. I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide it. People of Moriumi are very welcoming to magic and blessings and gifts. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Sunoo looked down at his lap. His tension had eased a bit, but he was still nervous.
Yudai was a little too good to be true. Sunoo never imagined he would meet an alpha who was so accepting and well spoken. Not to mention how tall and handsome he was, as well as his wealth and royal status. Sunoo was desperately trying to find a flaw for the sole reason of making Yudai more human, more relatable.
“My hands are starting to sweat too much in these things,” Sunoo said.
He took the gloves off one by one and then clutched them in his hands. Sunoo smiled up at Yudai, but he could feel how forced it was.
“It’s all right,” Yudai said. He offered his hand to Sunoo. “I have no emotions that I wish to hide from you.”
Sunoo lifted one of his hands. It was trembling slightly. He placed the pads of his fingers as gently as possible onto the back of Yudai’s hand.
Instantly, Sunoo felt the warm, grounding sense of acceptance. Yudai was being genuine. Sunoo could see soft swirls of ivory and pale yellow. It was gentle and kind. Yudai accepted him just as he was.
Sunoo pulled his hand away and then put his gloves back on.
“You’ve been so kind to me,” Sunoo said. “I know that I am not from here. I don’t speak the language and there is so much to learn about your customs. I’m from a simple noble family in a country that’s an ocean away. I know nothing about being royal, let alone the mate of a king, but… I would be honored to marry you and I will try to be the best omega for you.”
Yudai slid off the couch once more. He intertwined their fingers together as he knelt in front of Sunoo. It felt wrong to see an alpha and a king on his knees for a total stranger. But Sunoo didn’t fully hate the feeling either.
“I’m the one who’s honored,” Yudai said. “Thank you for coming all this way.” He kissed Sunoo’s hand. “I will be the best alpha for you. You have my word.”
Despite knowing so little about Yudai, Sunoo couldn’t help but to believe him.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The first few days in Moriumi were spent in the palace. Sunoo did his best to learn the entire layout so that he wouldn’t get lost every day. After the second day, he asked one of his attendants if they could draw a map for him. That ended up not being necessary though, because they had already done so. They had simply been waiting for Sunoo to request it.
He didn’t see Yudai very often. They met for breakfast or dinner most days, but that was all. Sunoo wasn’t sure what he expected. Yudai was a king of an entire country. He had an endless list of responsibilities and duties that Sunoo couldn’t even begin to understand. At least they were able to meet during mealtimes.
Sunoo quickly discovered that he was very fond of talking to Yudai. He had a way of speaking that captivated everyone in the room and Sunoo was no exception. His eyes always remained locked on Sunoo as they spoke. Sometimes, Sunoo forgot to eat because he felt like he was being frozen in place under Yudai’s intense stare.
They hadn’t spoken about Sunoo’s parents yet. Sunoo knew that he would have to ask for money eventually, but he couldn’t find the right time. Discussions of their marriage hadn’t happened either. For the time being, they were just getting to know each other. Sunoo was grateful for that, but he also knew that his parents were running out of time.
“You look lovely,” Yudai said once Sunoo walked into the dining hall.
“Thank you,” Sunoo said. He offered Yudai’s hand once he joined his side. Yudai kissed his knuckles. Sunoo still chose to wear gloves around him, so the only thing he felt was the press of Yudai’s lips. It was enough to make Sunoo flush. “You look lovely as well.”
One of the first things they had discussed was fashion. Sunoo had always enjoyed shopping each season with his mother and Jungwon, finding the newest styles and trying everything on. Yudai tended to stray from the standard uniform that a king would wear. He was wearing a billowy shirt today that was tied around his neck. It was a bit feminine for an alpha, but Sunoo liked it.
His own attendants had chosen a blush pink dress for him. The sleeves were long and trimmed with intricate lace. His wrist gloves were made of the same lace pattern.
“How was your day?” Yudai asked as the servers brought out their food.
“It was nice,” Sunoo said. “I finally asked for a map of the palace. My attendant had one waiting for me. It was like they knew I was going to get lost.”
“I had to use a map too when I first moved in,” Yudai said. “I grew up in a small cottage with my mother. I wasn’t used to…” He waved his hand in the air, gesturing to not only the dining hall, but the castle itself. “All of this.”
“Have you gotten used to it now?” Sunoo asked.
“As used to it as I can get, I believe,” Yudai said.
They ate their dinner in silence. It was unusual for them. Sunoo kept waiting for Yudai to bring up another topic. He wondered if the silence was Yudai’s way of telling Sunoo that he wanted him to be the one to start a conversation.
Sunoo wished the others had joined them, but they had been absent for every dinner after the first. Yudai said that they were “pestering” Fuma, Yixiang, and Euijoo at their home. Sunoo tended to believe that they were giving Yudai and Sunoo all the space they needed to become acquainted with each other.
“Do you want children?” Sunoo asked.
It wasn’t what Sunoo meant to say at all. But the thought had been spinning around his head ever since he had received and accepted Yudai’s proposal.
Yudai froze in place as he lifted his chopsticks to his mouth. He set them back down and took a sip of water before clearing his throat.
“Yes,” Yudai said. He looked at Sunoo, making that perfect eye contact like he always did. “I do. We’ll have to have an heir for the throne.”
“I assumed so,” Sunoo said with a nod. “I just wanted to know if you would like more than just one. Is having children a… duty for you, or is it something you truly want?”
“It’s both,” Yudai said. “But, if it were up to me, it would only be something that I truly want.”
“I’m an only child,” Sunoo said. “I’ve always wanted a big family. I’d like at least four.”
“Four,” Yudai repeated. He leaned back in his chair and then nodded his head as he thought about this. “I’d be thrilled to have four. The total number is up to you though. You’re the one who will carry them.”
“So, if my first pregnancy makes me absolutely miserable,” Sunoo said, “and I never want to be pregnant again, you’ll be pleased with just one child?”
“They will be the most spoiled and beloved little prince or princess in the entire world,” Yudai said. “I can guarantee that.”
Sunoo smiled to himself as he continued to eat. It was the perfect response. He couldn’t have asked for a better one.
Silence consumed them once more. Sunoo tried to think of another topic to bring up, but he decided that the silence was nice. If Yudai wanted to speak, then he would and Sunoo would do the same.
“Would you like dessert, Your Majesty?”
Yudai looked up at the server who had spoken to him. He smiled and nodded his head.
“Yes, thank you,” he said. “Sunoo, dessert?”
“Please,” Sunoo said.
His sweet tooth was being spoiled while living here. If Sunoo’s mother saw how he was eating, she would have a fit. But, she wasn’t here, so Sunoo was planning to indulge all he wanted.
“Do you enjoy parties?” Yudai asked.
“I do,” Sunoo said. “Is the palace hosting one soon?”
“At the end of this week,” Yudai said. “I’d like to host a ball in your honor. I want to properly introduce you to everyone. Would you be all right with that? You’d have a lot of attention on you.”
Attention wasn’t something that Sunoo was afraid of. He had often loved being the center of attention as a child. Being an only child had supplied him with endless hours of his parents’ focus belonging solely to him.
Sunoo shrugged his shoulders, trying his best to act nonchalant.
“I don’t mind attention,” he said.
“Good,” Yudai said. “I’m glad.”
“Do you like attention?” Sunoo asked.
“It’s not the worst thing in the world,” Yudai said.
He grinned and Sunoo didn’t need to touch his skin to know that he liked it just as much as Sunoo did. That was one thing they had in common. Sunoo added it to the list that he had been keeping in his head.
“Will the ball be all right with Jo and Harua though?” Sunoo asked. “Their wedding is just days away as well.”
“I asked them for permission first and they approved,” Yudai said.
It was a thoughtful gesture, and Sunoo appreciated it.
When he arrived to this country, Sunoo had been terrified of the new life he would have. He was also scared of his potential mate. Alphas weren’t known for being gentle. Most were aggressive and bold and assertive. Yudai was kind. He was also charming and infuriatingly handsome.
Sunoo wondered if Yudai thought that he was beautiful. It was a compliment that Sunoo had heard plenty of times before, but he wanted to hear the words come from Yudai.
“I’m looking forward to the ball,” Sunoo said. “And the wedding.”
“I am too,” Yudai said.
They enjoyed their dessert together and then spent another hour sitting at the table, somehow managing to talk about both everything and nothing.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
“That one is so pretty, hyung,” Harua said from his spot on Sunoo’s bed.
The three omegas of Yudai’s “family” had come to him one by one as Sunoo started to get ready for tonight’s ball. Euijoo had been first, offering support and soft words that comforted Sunoo instantly. He had such a gentle presence that Sunoo couldn’t help but to relax around him. Sunoo glanced at his rounded stomach and thought about what a good mother he was going to be.
Yuma had appeared next. He had simply asked if Sunoo wanted company while he was “tortured” by all of his maids. Sunoo didn’t think there was anything torturous about preparing for a ball. He had always enjoyed the process, but he let Yuma in anyway.
Harua was last. He had knocked on the door and greeted Sunoo with a bright smile. Harua was already dressed for the night, wearing a canary yellow gown that made him look even younger than he was. Sunoo still couldn’t believe that he was going to be married soon.
“I like this one too,” Sunoo said as he looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror. The gown they were talking about had a lace bodice with a skirt that was full and made of tulle. He liked how the sleeves settled off his shoulders and how the different fabrics were all the same shade of pink. “What should I wear with it?”
“We have plenty of options, Young Master,” one of his attendants said. She had traveled with him from Wolha. Sunoo smiled at her as she held up a case of jewelry in front of him. “Pick whatever you like.”
There was some rustling from behind him. Sunoo didn’t have to look over his shoulder to see that the three omegas had left his bed so that they could take a look at the jewelry as well.
“The pearl necklace is pretty,” Euijoo said.
“I like the diamond earrings,” Harua said.
“I think no accessories would make more of a statement,” Yuma said.
“You are so boring,” Harua said.
“And you are so annoying,” Yuma said, mocking Harua’s tone.
“Stop it,” Euijoo said. “Try your best to behave tonight.”
Yuma and Harua went back to the bed, dragging their feet on the way there. Euijoo stayed by his side.
“You have your hands full with those two,” Sunoo said as he pointed to the pearl necklace. Jungwon wore pearls often. It made Sunoo think of him.
“I have my hands full with all of them,” Euijoo said. “I don’t mind though. We’re a pack. We look out for each other.”
“Pack,” Sunoo repeated. “That’s an old-fashioned word.”
“I wasn’t used to it either when I moved to Moriumi,” Euijoo said. “But, it’s commonly used here. I think it describes all of us well. We’re family, even if it’s not by blood. Calling us friends just doesn’t feel strong enough.”
Sunoo’s thoughts continued to focus on Jungwon. If Sunoo was going to use the term “pack” for anyone, it would be for him.
“That’s lovely,” Sunoo said. His maid fastened the necklace and it settled onto his chest. Sunoo lifted his hands, his bare fingers touching the smooth pearls. “I’ll need a pair of gloves as well. Long ones, please.”
“You wear gloves often,” Euijoo said as a servant went to look through Sunoo’s collection. “They must be very in fashion in Wolha.”
“I’m not sure if they are,” Sunoo said. “They’re my favorite accessory though.”
If Sunoo wasn’t wearing them, then he felt a great sense of unease.
He chose a pair of white elbow length gloves. Sunoo put them on himself.
“I’m looking forward to your marriage, Young Master,” his maid said as she started to put away the boxes of accessories she had retrieved from his closet. “Once you’re royalty, we’ll be able to put a tiara on your head. I’ve heard that the Moriumi Family has an extensive collection of family jewels.”
Sunoo glanced at Euijoo, Yuma, and Harua. He was fully aware of how that sounded. The maid made it seem like Sunoo only wanted to marry Yudai for his money and the luxurious lifestyle that he could provide Sunoo with. It wasn’t a total lie. While Sunoo did find Yudai handsome and charming, it wasn’t the reason why he had accepted the proposal.
“You’ll look so beautiful in a tiara, Sunoo-yah,” Euijoo said. He paused, his cheeks turning pink. “Is it all right if I address you casually? Once you’re married, you’ll outrank me.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Sunoo said. “Honestly, I was really worried that I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to when I arrived here. I’m glad you’re all here. It’s nice, having friends.”
It might have been too soon to call them friends, but Sunoo had a feeling that they were easily heading in that direction. He wanted Jungwon to meet all of them. And Heeseung as well, he supposed. Having omega friends was the only thing keeping Sunoo sane most days.
He finished getting ready and took one final look at himself in the mirror. Sunoo turned, watching as his dress flared out around him. The dress was pretty, his hair was pretty, the makeup was pretty, and he was pretty.
Sunoo wondered what kind of compliments that Yudai would give Sunoo when he saw him. Yudai was so good with his words. It would probably be something romantic and over the top. Sunoo couldn’t wait.
The four of them left Sunoo’s chambers, heading down the hallway and then throughout the maze of the castle. Yuma and Harua chatted excitedly amongst themselves, walking quickly ahead of Sunoo and Euijoo. They were practically skipping down the hallway together.
“Are you nervous?” Euijoo asked. He linked his arm with Sunoo’s. His gloves and the long sleeves of Euijoo’s hanbok ensured that their skin didn’t touch. “I was nervous when Yudai-hyung first threw a ball in my honor.”
“He had a ball for you too?” Sunoo asked.
He had to ask Yudai about his relationship with all of his friends, his “pack.” They weren’t his family by blood, but Yudai treated them that way. The palace staff also treated them like they were royalty.
“He did,” Euijoo said. “All of us have had grand parties. I was the last one to join.”
“Because of your marriage to Fuma and Yixiang?” Sunoo asked.
“No,” Euijoo said, shaking his head. “Yudai-hyung took me in before that. My family was visiting from Wolha. It was only meant to be a vacation. I met Yixiang in the markets and I liked him instantly. He’s not from Wolha or Moriumi. My parents didn’t like that, and they didn’t like that he was a beta either.”
Sunoo squeezed his arm around Euijoo’s. He could barely contain his excitement as he sensed where Euijoo’s story was going.
“So, you defied your parents’ wishes and decided to stay here?” Sunoo said. “So that you could be with Yixiang?”
“Well… I suppose… yes,” Euijoo said. “Something like that happened. But I actually ended up with Fuma-hyung first before Yixiang and I got together.”
They stopped walking in the middle of the hallway. Yuma and Harua were still moving along, completely oblivious to Sunoo coming to an abrupt halt.
“We’re going back to my room,” Sunoo said.
“Why?” Euijoo asked. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Sunoo said. “I would just much rather listen to your full love story than go to this party. My friend back home has such a boring love story. Jungwon saw Heeseung from across a crowded room and somehow fell in love with him. Your story is much more exciting.”
“I don’t think that’s a boring story at all,” Euijoo said. “It sounds nice. Peaceful. Uneventful. Simple.”
“Boring is the word you’re searching for, hyung,” Sunoo said.
Euijoo laughed, shaking his head as they continued to walk down the hallway. Sunoo didn’t think he was going to learn all of Euijoo’s secrets tonight, but he had at least made a start. There was so much to discover here in Moriumi. Sunoo wanted to go back into the city to explore it more thoroughly, and to visit the forest as well. Those activities could wait though. He still hadn’t been able to walk through the castle without getting lost. If he didn’t have his map with him, Sunoo always ended up asking a maid or guard for directions.
“I hope you won’t be insulted if I leave early tonight,” Euijoo said. “I’ve been so tired these days. Jo and Harua’s wedding will take a lot of energy out of me too. I want to rest up for it as much as I can.”
“You could leave right now and I wouldn’t be insulted at all,” Sunoo said. “You’re growing a human being inside of you. I can’t even imagine the amount of effort it takes.” He pursed his lips together as a sudden thought came to his head. “I suppose I’ll know one day though.”
“You’re already thinking of children?” Euijoo asked.
“I’m only a year younger than you,” Sunoo said.
“Yes, well, it’s not like this child was planned,” Euijoo said, placing his hand on his stomach.
Sunoo stopped walking again. He tugged on Euijoo’s arm, like he was going to drag him back to his bedroom so that Sunoo could interrogate him. Euijoo laughed again and Sunoo couldn’t help but to think that the tone of his laughter was as sweet as Euijoo was.
“An unplanned pregnancy?” Sunoo said, trying and failing to keep the intrigue out of his voice.
“I’ll tell you all about it later,” Euijoo said. “It’s not as dramatic as it seems though.” He looked down at his stomach. “This child is definitely wanted, and already so loved.”
“I can see that,” Sunoo said. “Yudai-hyung’s friends all adore you. Your whole… ‘pack’ sees you as the head omega, don’t they?”
“I suppose so,” Euijoo said. “Even though I was the last one to join, I’m still the oldest omega. It’s so easy for me to take care of them. Fuma-hyung wasn’t too pleased about me taking on the role though.”
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Sunoo asked, fully invested in every single one of Euijoo’s words.
“He didn’t like that because I had taken the role as head omega,” Euijoo said, “that Yudai’s advisors assumed that Yudai wanted to make me his mate. It’s how I found out that Fuma had feelings for me.”
The gasp that escaped from Sunoo couldn’t have been suppressed, even if he had tried. He had so many questions to ask, but their journey to the ballroom had come to an end. They were standing at the top of the steps that led down into the main hall. The ballroom was just on the other side once they descended the stairs.
Sunoo saw people walking from the entrance hall into the ballroom below. They were all exceptionally well dressed in gowns and tuxedos and kimono. Harua and Yuma had already made their way downstairs. Jo was there, looking very tall and handsome in his suit. He smiled softly when Harua bounded up to him, taking his hands and pressing up on his tiptoes for a brief kiss. Yuma stood on the side with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Is Yuma interested in any of the Rikis?” Sunoo asked. “They’re all around the same age, aren’t they?”
“Yuma is a bit older,” Euijoo said. “He’s not interested in them though. He says they’re too immature, and annoying.”
“I can see that,” Sunoo said. Taki, Niki, and Maki were all dressed in suits as well. Maki threw his arm around Yuma’s shoulders only for it to be quickly pushed away. Sunoo laughed. “They’re funny.”
“That’s a very nice word,” Euijoo said. He was smiling fondly at them though. “Yudai has known Taki and Niki since they were children. Taki took to Yudai instantly, but apparently Niki and Yudai used to fight constantly. Niki still threatens to leave Moriumi at least twice a month. He keeps saying that he’s going to run away to be a pirate and sail the world.”
“Well, I wish him luck on that endeavor,” Sunoo said. “I personally would be very happy to never board another ship in my lifetime.”
“I think I would be happy about that as well,” Euijoo said. He grabbed Sunoo’s hand and squeezed. “I like having you here.”
“And I…” Sunoo paused, thinking over his next words carefully. “I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed my time here so far.”
Their conversation didn’t have a chance to go beyond that. Fuma and Yixiang approached them, making their way up the stairs and then to Euijoo’s side. Euijoo accepted kisses from both of them and Sunoo made himself busy by pretending to look at the architecture of the room. A mural was painted on the ceiling of the entrance hall, depicting a full moon and starry sky.
“Sunoo-ssi,” Fuma said once his lips were no longer occupied by his mates’, “Yudai will be here soon. I think he had trouble picking out his necktie, or something like that.”
“He should have asked me for help,” Yixiang said. “I have better taste than he does.”
“I would disagree with that.”
Sunoo looked behind him to see Yudai walking toward them. He was wearing a black suit without a necktie at all. A simple white bowtie was in its place. The thin gold crown that Sunoo often saw him wear was resting atop his dark hair.
“You’re a vision,” Yudai said, taking Sunoo’s hand and kissing his knuckles like he always did. “I wanted my tie to match your gown, but I don’t think pink suits me as well as it does you.”
“I still would have liked to see it,” Sunoo said.
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” Yudai said.
“How did you know I was going to wear pink though?” Sunoo asked.
“It’s your favorite color, isn’t it?” Yudai said.
They were smiling at each other now. The look on Yudai’s face made Sunoo want to brush their skin together so that he could get a glimpse of Yudai’s real feelings. Was his smile genuine? Did he truly believe that Sunoo was a vision to behold? Sunoo thought that he was being truthful, but there was a tiny bit of doubt in the back of his mind that made him unsure.
“We’re going to head downstairs,” Fuma said. “I’ll let them know that you’re waiting to be announced.”
“Thank you,” Yudai said.
Fuma bowed to him slightly before offering his arm to Euijoo. Yixiang did the same and then the three walked down the steps with Euijoo in the middle. Sunoo watched them go, feeling his heart flutter in his chest. It was almost his time to be introduced to everyone.
What if he said the wrong thing? What if his translator didn’t properly interpret his words? What if people judged him for not already being fluent in the Moriumi language? What if no one thought that he was a good match for Yudai? What if they didn’t approve?
“May I have your attention, please!” a man announced from the bottom of the steps.
“Inhale,” Yudai said. “Take a deep breath.”
“What?” Sunoo said.
“Just do it,” Yudai said. “Take a deep breath, count to four.” Sunoo nodded, breathing in through his nose and letting the air fill his lungs. “Now, hold it for four seconds. And then exhale for four.”
He repeated the breathing pattern a few times. Sunoo felt just a bit better. His heart seemed to be beating slightly slower.
“I’d like to introduce to you, His Royal Majesty, King Koga Yudai,” the announcer said. Yudai held his hand out to Sunoo. “As well as his betrothed, Young Master Kim Sunoo of Wolha.”
Sunoo placed his hand on top of Yudai’s. They looked at each other and nodded. Sunoo squared his shoulders and lifted his chin before taking a deep breath. He walked down the steps with Yudai, seeing the crowd of people waiting for them at the bottom.
Instead of the judgmental or cruel or unimpressed or blank faces that he had expected, Sunoo saw everyone looking at him with a sense of wonder. He almost would have preferred a negative reaction. This was a level of attention that he hadn’t planned for.
Sunoo wasn’t going to falter though. He held his head even higher and smiled at all of them. Letting his confidence fade away for even a second wasn’t an option for him. He was engaged to a king. Sunoo was Yudai’s chosen one. He had every reason to be sure of himself.
It didn’t matter what kind of reaction he got tonight from the people of Moriumi. Sunoo knew that he belonged here.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The evening started with dinner and Sunoo was grateful for that. He sat next to Yudai in his usual spot at the end of the table. Yudai held his hand for most of the meal and refused to look away from Sunoo’s face as they spoke. It was clear to everyone there that Sunoo had Yudai’s complete attention. Being so openly adored would have made most people nervous, but Sunoo found himself basking in it.
He returned the attention to Yudai, squeezing his hand as he spoke with excitement. Whenever he had something particularly mundane to share with him, Sunoo would lean forward and cover his mouth with his hand as he whispered in Yudai’s ear. He could practically feel all of the party guests leaning forward, desperately trying to hear whatever secret that Sunoo had shared with Yudai.
All Sunoo said was that he was looking forward to dancing later in the evening. It was hardly a scandalous thing to say.
Once dessert was served, and Sunoo was delightedly surprised with a serving of his favorite chocolate and mint mousse, he was more than ready to leave the dining room behind him. Sunoo had always loved attending parties and dances. He didn’t think he had ever attended an event that was grand enough to call a ball, but he figured it would be the same as the parties he had gone to before. But surely on a much larger scale.
Yudai stood up from his chair once Sunoo had swallowed the last bit of his dessert. The entire room looked at him at once, their heads swiveling in his direction. Sunoo merely tilted his upward, smiling up at Yudai who still only had eyes for him.
“Are you ready for dancing, Sunoo?” he asked.
“Yes,” Sunoo said. “I am.”
He took Yudai’s hand and let him lead the way out of the dining room. Yudai kept his hand out in front of them. Even though they were holding hands, there was still an arm’s length of space between them. Sunoo thought of attending parties with Jungwon and Heeseung in the past. Jungwon always wrapped his arm around Heeseung’s. Their sides would press together until there was no room for even air between them. Sunoo wanted to hold on to Yudai like that as well, but he supposed it wouldn’t be proper.
They walked across the large main hall until they approached the enormous doors of the ballroom. It was one of three ballrooms in the palace. This was the largest one that was used for parties and events. The second largest was for smaller private events. Sunoo hadn’t seen the third one yet, but one of his maids told him that it was for Yudai’s own use. Apparently he loved to dance in his free time. Sunoo would love to watch him dance, or to even join him.
Half of an orchestra had somehow fit into the ballroom. They took up one side of the room, playing a delicate waltz as Yudai and Sunoo arrived. Yudai guided Sunoo along until they were in the center of the ballroom. The tiles on the floor looked like they were made of gold since they were so clean and sparkling that they reflected the light of the lanterns lit in the room. Three chandeliers were high above their heads and lit with hundreds of candles.
The lighting of the room felt so romantic. Sunoo looked away from Yudai’s face for the first time since they had walked down the main staircase together. He looked outside the floor to ceiling windows that took up most of one wall. It was dark outside with a crescent moon hanging high in the sky. The stars that joined the moon were so bright. Compared to Sunoo’s hometown in Wolha, the air of Moriumi was so clean and clear.
“May I have this dance?” Yudai asked, gaining Sunoo’s attention once more.
“Yes you may,” Sunoo said. He grinned up at him. “We’re already in the middle of the dancefloor. Music is playing.” Sunoo glanced at the doors to the ballroom to see that a crowd of people had followed them from the dining hall. “I wouldn’t want to embarrass you by turning you down.”
“You are too kind,” Yudai said. His left hand continued to hold Sunoo’s right hand while his left went his upper back. Sunoo placed his free hand on Yudai’s broad shoulder. “If you had rejected me, I would have been so embarrassed that I would have had to flee from the ballroom and cry myself to sleep tonight.”
“I’m a true saint then,” Sunoo said as they started to dance, easily falling into a waltz as they followed the music. “I wouldn’t want so many of your people to see their king in such a state.”
“Our people,” Yudai said. “They won’t just be mine once we marry. They’ll be yours as well.”
Sunoo liked the sound of that. He liked it perhaps a little too much. They danced for a single song by themselves before others joined them. Sunoo saw Jo and Harua out of the corner of his eye, smiling at each other as they swayed back in forth.
“How do you feel about those two?” Sunoo asked, nodding in the direction of the young couple. “They’re getting married so soon.”
“I’m happy for them,” Yudai said. “Finding your mate and becoming one is the greatest accomplishment for a… couple like them.”
His words had Sunoo glancing down at Yudai’s feet. He had to admit that he felt plenty of sparks and attraction while he was in Yudai’s presence. They liked each other already, but it all felt very shallow. There was still so much they had to learn. Sunoo didn’t know him on a deeper level, even though he definitely wanted to.
“They must know everything about each other,” Sunoo said.
“I’m sure they do,” Yudai said. He tightened his hand around Sunoo’s, making him look away from his feet and up into his eyes. “We will know everything about each other as well. There isn’t a single thing about you that I wish not to know.”
Sunoo smiled and felt his cheeks become warm with a blush. His eyes went back to the doors that led outside.
“Would you like to get some fresh air?” Sunoo asked.
“I would love to,” Yudai said.
They walked across the dancefloor together. Each person they passed bowed to Yudai. Sunoo knew they weren’t bowing to him, but after he made eye contact with a few people he noticed they quickly looked down to the floor. It was like they were afraid to look him in the eye, or they didn’t find themselves worthy enough. Sunoo couldn’t understand it. He was a non-royal foreigner from a different country. Yudai wasn’t his husband yet.
A glass door led to the grand balcony outside. Sunoo stepped out and instantly put his arms around himself. He hadn’t expected a chill in the summer. They were right next to the ocean, so he supposed the breeze off the water made the air colder.
Sunoo walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down to see the ocean directly below them. The waves crashed up against the side of the castle. A mist of water came up, hitting his face. Sunoo laughed and then wiped the water off his face with his gloves.
“We’re right on top of the water,” Sunoo said.
“I should have warned you before you got too close to the edge,” Yudai said.
Another wave hit the castle wall, but Sunoo took a step back before he could be sprayed. He tilted his head up, looking at the moon above them. His hands held onto the balcony railing as he leaned even further back.
“The air is so clean here,” Sunoo said. “I can see so many stars. And all I smell is salt from the ocean. There’s no smog or pollution.”
“I’d like to keep Moriumi that way,” Yudai said. “Machines are very convenient, but they’re not very good for the health of the people or the land.”
“That’s a good approach,” Sunoo said. He looked down at the water to see the moon’s reflection rippling across the surface. “I’d like to see more of the country. I know most of it is forested, and I’m not exactly the outdoorsy type, but I still want to see it.”
“I’ll show you,” Yudai said. “How about after Jo and Harua’s wedding?”
“That sounds nice,” Sunoo said.
They stood in silence together, only letting the sound of the ocean waves and the faint music from the ballroom fill in the space between them.
“Would you like to dance?” Yudai asked.
“I’d like to stay out here for a bit longer, if that’s all right,” Sunoo said. “But you should go inside and dance if you want to. I don’t mind if you find another partner or–”
“The only person I want to dance with is you,” Yudai said, offering his hand to Sunoo. “And we don’t have to go back inside to dance. There’s plenty of room out here.”
Sunoo looked around at the large balcony. There were a few tables and chairs set up, as well as a few impressively tall potted plants. The center was entirely open though, almost like their very own private dancefloor.
“You’ve convinced me,” Sunoo said. He took Yudai’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
Yudai took him into his arms once more, but it was a bit different than how they danced together inside. Sunoo still held on to Yudai’s left hand while his right went to Sunoo’s lower back instead of the middle of it. They stepped closer together as well.
As they started to dance, Sunoo couldn’t look away from Yudai’s eyes. He thought about how Yudai told them that they had met each other before. Sunoo had no memories of him though. Staring into his eyes now made Sunoo realize that there was something just slightly familiar about him. It was his eyes. Sunoo had seen his eyes before, but he had no idea where or how.
“What’s on your mind?” Yudai asked as they spun around the balcony. “Tell me.”
“Do I have to tell you?” Sunoo asked. “Is that an order from a king?”
“No,” Yudai said. “I am not your king. You’re not a citizen of this country. I hold no power over you, and I never will.”
“Marrying you would make me a citizen,” Sunoo said.
“Yes, but I still don’t wish to control you,” Yudai said. “I want you to live all of your days freely. I just… selfishly wish that you’ll spend those days by my side.”
“I’ve already agreed to marry you,” Sunoo said.
“I know,” Yudai said. “And I’m beyond grateful, but I know that I must do so much more in order to have you fully.”
Sunoo felt his heart thudding in his chest. His cheeks were flushed again. He was so relieved he was wearing gloves because he knew his palms had to be damp with sweat.
Yudai spoke to him so directly. It was refreshing, hearing such straightforward words from an alpha. During Sunoo’s rare attempts at courting back in Wolha, alphas lied more than they told the truth. They promised him they were on their way to becoming doctors and lawyers and businessmen. None of them ever asked Sunoo questions about himself or revealed anything truly personal.
Sunoo realized that he still hadn’t been completely truthful with Yudai.
“I have to tell you something,” Sunoo said. “I originally planned to tell you after we were married, but I think I should do it now. You’ve been so kind and honest to me. My… my family isn’t doing well, financially. My parents spent the last of their money to hire the boat that sent me here. I’m hoping that… once we’re married… that you’ll… send them money.”
He looked down at his feet as he spoke. The final sentence was hard to say. Sunoo had to take a breath between phrases until he could push out the words.
“I’ve already sent them money,” Yudai said.
They had stopped dancing. Sunoo lifted his head quickly so that he could look back into Yudai’s eyes.
“You have?” Sunoo asked. “Did my parents write to you, requesting it? I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry for only saying something now. I don’t want you to think that I only came to marry you because–”
“That is the only reason you came though, isn’t it?” Yudai asked. He was grinning. Sunoo didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. “For my money?”
It was a question that Sunoo had been dreading. Because, yes, he had only agreed to marry Yudai because of the money he could provide Sunoo’s family. Yudai had already sent the money to his parents, so Sunoo assumed that the wedding was inevitable now. Sunoo would have to hold up his end of the bargain.
“I… I don’t know how to say it politely,” Sunoo said. He stepped back from Yudai completely and put his face in his hands. “I really did… Oh, I sound awful, but… yes. It was the only reason I agreed.”
He was scared to look at Yudai’s face. Everything had been going so well between them. Sunoo was enjoying the process of getting to know Yudai. He was starting to like living in Moriumi. Sunoo was slowly making new friends and adjusting to life in the palace. He hadn’t been here for very long, but he didn’t want everything to change.
Sunoo had accepted that this marriage could be loveless, but that didn’t mean that he wanted the marriage to start with Yudai knowing that Sunoo was a gold digger.
Yudai gently took Sunoo’s wrists and pulled his hands away from his face. Sunoo squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn’t have to look at him. The sound of Yudai’s amused chuckle made Sunoo flush.
“That is what I assumed,” Yudai said. “I gave you no other reason to marry me. Your family was in trouble, and a golden opportunity fell onto your lap. I don’t judge you for accepting my proposal, Sunoo.”
Sunoo slowly opened his eyes, one at a time.
“You don’t?” he asked.
“No,” Yudai said. “I knew that was why you accepted in the first place. I just wanted us to talk about it.”
“Oh,” Sunoo said. He waited for Yudai to continue speaking, but he didn’t. Yudai continued to smile down at him, looking completely carefree. “You’re really not upset?”
“Of course not,” Yudai said.
It was all too easy for Sunoo to return his smile. He felt lighter. All of the secrets that he had kept close when coming here were now known to Yudai. He knew about Sunoo’s gift and his family’s struggles. And he was still smiling at Sunoo like that.
Sunoo was starting to wonder what exactly Yudai saw in him. He wished he could remember their first meeting, but it was still a mystery to him. It felt like if he remembered that moment, he would finally understand Yudai’s fondness for him.
“I’m beginning to really… like you,” Sunoo said. He knew it wasn’t necessary for him to say that, but it was nice to say. Sunoo wanted Yudai to know that he was choosing to stay in Moriumi because of how Yudai made him feel. “I’ve enjoyed my time here so far.”
“Good,” Yudai said. His hand found Sunoo’s again and he stepped closer. Sunoo thought they were going to start dancing again. “I’m very fond of you as well.”
Instead of continuing their dance, Yudai brought Sunoo into his embrace instead. Sunoo gasped and his hands squeezed into fists at his sides. He didn’t know what else to do with them. Yudai was being so forward.
“Hyung,” Sunoo said. His voice sounded like a squeak. “What are you doing?”
“I’m holding my future mate,” Yudai said. He stepped away from Sunoo. His cheeks were flushed and he looked embarrassed. Sunoo thought that he looked particularly adorable. “I’m sorry. I should have asked for your permission first.”
“It’s all right,” Sunoo said quickly. “I was surprised, but I didn’t mind it.” The words escaped from his lips before Sunoo could fully think them over. Now he was the one blushing in embarrassment. “Feel free to hold me whenever you like. In private, of course.”
“I’d be glad to,” Yudai said. He looked to the ballroom where couples were still twirling on the dancefloor. This party was meant to be for Sunoo, but he was spending most of his time outside with Yudai. “Would you like to go back inside?”
Sunoo considered his offer for a moment. Going inside would be the most polite thing to do. Sunoo was sure that he had more people to introduce himself to. He didn’t want people to think that he was rude.
The sound of the ocean waves was so calming though. Sunoo also liked how the music inside was muffled on the balcony. He didn’t feel trapped outside. And he liked dancing with Yudai, with plenty of space for them to dance without worrying about bumping into anyone.
“How about a few more dances out here?” Sunoo asked. “We can head inside afterward.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me,” Yudai said.
He bowed to Sunoo and offered his hand again. Sunoo curtsied in return before taking his hand and giggling as Yudai spun him around, starting a new dance.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The palace was quiet on the morning of Jo and Harua’s wedding. Sunoo had woken up to light streaming through the sheer white curtains in his bedroom. He had gotten out of bed, done his daily morning stretch routine, and then put on his robe before heading onto the balcony.
Harua had asked him the night before if he would spend the day with him, Euijoo, and Yuma before the ceremony. Sunoo had agreed. He was excited. Sunoo had always loved weddings. When he was a child, he had spent countless hours with Jungwon as they planned their own future weddings. Jungwon wanted something small and intimate. Sunoo wanted a grand and elaborate ceremony.
He was going to marry a king, so Sunoo supposed he got his wish.
Sunoo wasn’t sure what Jo and Harua had planned for their ceremony. Yudai told him that it would be very traditional. Sunoo hadn’t asked any more questions. He had been too embarrassed to ask about Moriumi wedding traditions. It felt like something that he should have studied before arriving here. Sunoo could always go to the library to do research, but he was going to witness a traditional ceremony today. He would see everything he needed to at Jo and Harua’s wedding.
A maid came into his room not long after he had stepped out onto the balcony. Sunoo looked behind him to see her making his bed. When she caught his eye, she bowed deeply and then continued with her work. Sunoo placed his hands on the railing and looked out at the ocean. It was a beautiful day. The wedding was going to be outside and there wasn’t a single rain cloud in the sky. Sunoo hadn’t seen rainfall in Moriumi yet. Yudai had told him that it didn’t happen often.
After he had gotten his fill of the morning air, Sunoo went back to his bedroom. He got dressed himself after insisting to his maid that he didn’t need her assistant. Sunoo’s breakfast outfits had gotten less and less elaborate with each day that passed. This morning, he put on a pair of white trousers that sat high on his waist and an emerald green blouse that was dangerously close to slipping off his shoulders. He grabbed a pair of white gloves and kept his house slippers on as he made his way downstairs.
The palace was still like a maze to him, and getting lost was always a possibility, but Sunoo was a bit more familiar now. When he made it to the breakfast room, Yudai was already there. He was drinking a cup of coffee and looking at today’s newspaper.
“Good morning,” Sunoo said. He stood behind Yudai and placed his hands on his shoulders. “Anything interesting happening today?”
“Not that I know of,” Yudai said. “I haven’t gotten to the last page though.”
“Interesting news is meant to be at the front of the paper, isn’t it?” Sunoo asked.
“Excellent point,” Yudai said. He turned his head so that he could kiss Sunoo’s hand that rested on his shoulder. “Sit down. Join me for breakfast.”
Sunoo knew that it wasn’t an order, but he gladly sat down anyway. Once he was seated, a server approached him and asked what he would like for breakfast.
“Whatever Yudai-hyung is having, please,” Sunoo said. Pickiness had never been an issue for him. “And an almond croissant, if you have them.”
The server bowed and left for the kitchen. Sunoo got comfortable in his seat and then poured himself a cup of tea from the kettle on the table. He had been reprimanded for that the first few times he had tried to serve himself. Now, the staff stood quietly to the side and didn’t intervene.
Having people wait on him for everything was nice in theory, but Sunoo still wanted his moments of independence. Even if the current moment was just him pouring tea into a cup.
“The wedding is in the evening,” Yudai said. He closed the paper and quickly glanced over the back page. Yudai then neatly folded it and placed it on the table next to him. “So, there is plenty of time to relax until then. I’m sure Harua will want you to keep him company for most of the day though.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Sunoo said. “The wedding and helping Harua prepare. I’m an only child and I’m not close to any of my cousins, so I’ve never attended the wedding of someone close to me before. My only friend is still courting the alpha that I know he’s going to marry one day.”
Sunoo loved to read. In all of the romance novels that he was obsessed with, there was always a scene of the leading omega getting ready for their wedding. They would sit in a room, surrounded by their mother and sisters and best friends. All of them would tell stories about their wedding days as the omega was pampered and adored.
He couldn’t help but to think about his own wedding day. Sunoo wanted Jungwon to be there. They had talked about it so much when they were children. Sunoo couldn’t get married without Jungwon by his side.
“I went back and forth between Fuma and Yixiang’s rooms when they mated with Euijoo,” Yudai said. “They were both so nervous. Three person weddings are a lot of work, so I’m hoping today’s will be less eventful.”
“I’m sure it’ll be perfect,” Sunoo said. He looked outside the window in the breakfast room to see the same clear sky that he had taken in on his balcony. “It won’t rain today. The ocean breeze is so refreshing. It’ll be beautiful.”
Yudai looked out of the window as well. He sighed, but it wasn’t dreamy and content like all of the sighs Sunoo had been doing today.
“It would be nice if it rained though,” Yudai said. “One of my favorite folktales is about the Moon Goddess crying the night that she married her beloved. She lives in the heavens, so whenever it rains, people say that she’s crying tears of joy. Rain on a wedding is good luck here.”
“Oh,” Sunoo said. He squinted up at the sky. “I might see a cloud… or two up there.”
His response got a laugh from Yudai. Sunoo loved his laugh. It was so loud and open. Sunoo never imagined that a king could laugh like that, especially in private. He had expected Yudai to be serious and reserved, but he couldn’t be more relieved to be wrong.
“It’s fine if it doesn’t rain,” Yudai said. “I’m sure there’s a folktale about a sunny day being good luck for a newlywed couple. The one about the Moon Goddess is just my personal favorite.”
Sunoo made a mental note to find that particular story and read it. He had only just started learning the Moriumi language, so he knew that it would be awhile before he could actually read it.
They ate their breakfast together. Yudai liked simple breakfasts of baked fish and rice and broth. Sunoo ate the same thing, but finished his meal with an almond croissant. Yudai didn’t get one for himself, but he did insist on getting bites of Sunoo’s.
It was all so sweet and simple. Sunoo never could have imagined his life turning out this way when he first heard about Yudai’s proposal. He could definitely admit that he was pleased with the outcome though.
Yudai escorted him to Harua’s bedroom after breakfast. Sunoo walked with his arm looped with Yudai’s. He knew that he should be trying to memorize the path from the breakfast room to Harua’s room, but Sunoo was too caught up in talking to Yudai. Sunoo was constantly amazed by Yudai’s ability to make mundane stories sound interesting. He thought that he would be happy to hear Yudai talk about anything.
“Thanks for walking me here,” Sunoo said once they stopped outside of the bedroom. “I’ll see you at the ceremony?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Yudai said. “What color will you be wearing today? I’ll try to match.”
“Light blue,” Sunoo said. “I haven’t seen the kimono yet, but that’s the color I was told.”
“I look forward to seeing you in it,” Yudai said.
He bowed to Sunoo and Sunoo curtsied to Yudai. Sunoo watched him walk down the hallway until he turned a corner and was out of sight. After watching Yudai leave, Sunoo turned around and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Euijoo’s voice said from inside.
Euijoo spoke in the Moriumi language, but Sunoo could understand the simple phrase.
“It’s Sunoo,” he said.
The door opened to reveal Euijoo who was dressed in a large sweater and a pair of loose trousers. The fabric of the sweater stretched over his round stomach and his cheeks were flushed. He was smiling at the sight of Sunoo, but his hair was a mess. Sunoo looked around him to see the bedroom in absolute chaos.
“How have things been this morning?” Sunoo asked.
“Hectic,” Euijoo said. “Come inside.”
When Sunoo stepped into the room, the first thing he noticed was the stacks of boxes in the room. There weren’t many personal objects in Harua’s bedroom. It was mostly stripped of any personality. Only practical furniture was left like his bed and desk.
“I suppose he’s moving out of the palace after the wedding,” Sunoo said.
“Yes,” Euijoo said. “I did the same when I was mated. Yudai-hyung has a manor on the palace grounds all set up for Jo and Harua. It’s not too far from where I live with Fuma and Yixiang.”
Sunoo thought it was nice that Yudai’s closest friends were still able to live close to the palace after they were mated. They had their privacy and independence while staying close to their pack.
Harua was currently sitting on his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest. Yuma was sitting next to him, but the two weren’t talking. Waves of palace servants were walking in and out of the room. Some were carrying boxes while others were trying to get Harua’s attention. He seemed to be in a daze. Sunoo hoped he wasn’t sick or, worse, having second thoughts.
“Is he all right?” Sunoo asked Euijoo.
“I think so,” Euijoo said. “He’s just nervous. I hope.”
Euijoo went to Harua. He looked like he was about to kneel in front of him, but Euijoo’s hand went to his pregnant belly and he shook his head, as if silently telling himself that kneeling in his current state wasn’t the best idea.
“He won’t talk to me,” Yuma said. He glanced up at Sunoo and grinned. It lacked the usual playfulness that Yuma’s smiles always held. “Hi, Sunoo-hyung.”
“Good morning,” Sunoo greeted. Harua’s vanity table was still in the room. Sunoo sat down on the chair in front of it before one of the servants could carry it away. “How are all of you?”
“I’m great,” Yuma said. “Harua is having a meltdown though.”
“It is not a meltdown,” Harua said quickly.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Yuma asked.
“Second thoughts?” Harua echoed. “About Jo? Never. I love him. I’m going to marry him today.”
“Then why are you frozen?” Yuma asked.
“Because…” Harua glanced around the bedroom, taking in all of the people and activity. “Because I’m… Well, the wedding itself will be wonderful and so will the party afterward, but what about the…” His face was becoming a darker shade of pink with every word he spoke. “Can everyone please leave? Except for Euijoo, Yuma, and Sunoo?”
His voice was so small that none of the servants heard him. Harua cleared his voice and tried again, but he barely reached a higher decibel. He was going to try for a third time, but Yuma clamped his hand over his mouth instead.
“Everyone!” Yuma shouted. “Get out! We need privacy!”
The palace staff all froze for a single second before leaving the room in an orderly line. Once the bedroom doors were shut and they had their privacy, all attention went back to Harua.
“What is it that you’re worried about exactly?” Euijoo asked, sitting down next to Harua on the bed. Yuma and Euijoo were now on either side of Harua. “You can tell us anything.”
Sunoo nodded, quietly showing his support. He had a feeling that he knew exactly what Harua was so worried about. It was something that was worrying Sunoo too about his own wedding.
“The wedding night,” Harua said. “I… I’ve read books about it. We had a few classes about it in school. I know how it… works… physically. But I’m…”
“You’re scared about sex?” Yuma asked bluntly.
Harua’s face turned the darkest red that it possibly could. He nodded quickly as he curled his hands into small fists on his lap. Euijoo smiled at him. It was so gentle and warm that even Sunoo felt more relaxed just looking at his face.
“It’s normal to be nervous,” Euijoo said. “I was nervous for my first time too.”
“I’m sure you were even more nervous,” Yuma said. “You had two mates to worry about.”
“I was actually comforted by that,” Euijoo said with a soft laugh. “Fuma and Yixiang both had experience. I was totally new to it. I had them to rely on.”
“I don’t have any experience at all,” Harua said. “Neither does Jo.”
“But you have Euijoo,” Yuma said. He leaned forward and grinned at Euijoo. “So, tell us.”
Sunoo couldn’t help but to inch closer as well. He was definitely interested in hearing a firsthand account, but he didn’t want to be too obvious.
“Really?” Euijoo said. Sunoo watched as his cheeks turned a bright pink. “Now? How… How much do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Yuma said.
He was very eager and totally unashamed about it. Sunoo was grateful for Yuma. He was getting married soon and Sunoo didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of Yudai by being ill prepared.
Even though, he doubted that Yudai would care if he was clueless. He wasn’t the type to judge.
“Well, that’s very personal,” Euijoo said, folding his arms across his chest. “And it’s not that complicated. You just… well… I’m sure you know some things already.”
“You’re no fun, hyung,” Yuma said.
“You really can’t tell me even just a little bit?” Harua asked. “Please, hyung?”
Sunoo was hoping that Harua’s pout would be enough to make Euijoo talk. He didn’t understand how anyone could turn down Harua. Especially when he was looking at Euijoo with large, watery eyes.
“Fine,” Euijoo said. He wasn’t difficult to crack at all. “So, do you have any specific questions?”
“Does it hurt?” Harua asked.
He spoke so quickly that Sunoo knew this question must have been weighing on him for a while. Euijoo’s embarrassed and flushed face quickly changed expression. He gave Harua another patient, sweet smile before practically pulling him onto his lap. Euijoo kept his arm around Harua as he spoke to him.
“It can,” Euijoo said. “That’s why you have to prepare for it properly. Relax your body as much as you can. And just go slow. I’m sure Jo will understand. I can’t imagine him being… aggressive.”
Sunoo couldn’t imagine it either and he barely knew Jo.
“How do I prepare?” Harua asked.
Euijoo managed to give Harua advice without stumbling over his words too often. Sunoo and Yuma sat by the side, listening in on the conversation that wasn’t directed toward them. While Sunoo made mental notes, Yuma was picking at his cuticles. He didn’t seem that interested anymore.
“I thought you’d be paying more attention,” Sunoo said, nudging Yuma’s side.
“I wanted to hear all the embarrassing details about Fuma and Yixiang,” Yuma said. “I don’t need to hear about how to prepare my body for an alpha and their stupid knot.”
Sunoo lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Yuma was so blunt. He didn’t shy away from what he was feeling at all.
“You don’t like alphas?” Sunoo asked.
“Not particularly,” Yuma said, shrugging his shoulders. “Some of them are all right. Betas are nice. Omegas…”
He trailed off, not completing his sentence. Sunoo could understand what he was about to say though.
“You want to mate with an omega?” Sunoo asked.
Yuma shrugged again, looking at the floor in front of him. Sunoo didn’t push him further. He didn’t want to make Yuma uncomfortable or take his nosiness too far.
“I guess so,” Yuma said. “I haven’t met the right one yet. Maybe one isn’t even out there for me. An omega wanting another omega is weird, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think it’s weird at all,” Sunoo said. “If that’s how you feel, then it’s perfectly natural.”
Sunoo meant every word to Yuma. He had heard about alphas wanting other alphas and omegas wanting omegas. It didn’t bother him. His mother always had nasty things to say about the rumors, but Sunoo didn’t agree. How could loving someone be wrong?
“I should have written some of that down,” Harua said after Euijoo had given him all the advice he had to give. “What if I forget something?”
“You won’t,” Euijoo said. “Remember, you don’t even have to do all of that tonight. You don’t have to do it tomorrow night either, or next week or next month or next year. Just take your time and move at your own pace. Jo will understand.”
“And if he doesn’t understand,” Yuma said, rejoining their conversation. “Let me know, and I’ll let Fuma know and then I can watch as Fuma tears him apart.”
Harua gave Yuma a sour, unimpressed look that made Yuma laugh. Despite his annoyance with Yuma, Harua had seemed to relax.
It made Sunoo feel a little strange though. He looked at Euijoo and saw how easily he had handled another omega’s worries. Euijoo was made to be the head omega of a pack. Harua and Yuma weren’t the only ones who flocked to his side. The other members of Yudai’s pack adored him as well.
Sunoo curled his hands into fists and looked down at his lap. He didn’t know what he offered to this pack. Sunoo was just an outsider. He wasn’t sure if there was any amount of time that could allow him to take Euijoo’s place as head omega. This wasn’t his pack. They weren’t his friends. Everyone was nice to him, but he knew it was because he was engaged to Yudai.
“Sunoo, are you all right?” Euijoo asked. “Did my conversation with Harua make you uncomfortable?”
With a quick shake of his head, Sunoo managed to snap out of his negative thoughts and worries. It wasn’t Euijoo’s fault that he had joined this pack before Sunoo had. Sunoo would just need to work harder to prove that he belonged.
“Not at all,” Sunoo said. “I actually found it very informative. I’m worried about my own mating night too, so thank you for sharing.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” Euijoo said, blushing. “I’m the oldest omega here and I’m the only one who’s mated. I should be sharing these things with you all.”
“And we appreciate it,” Yuma said. “As long as next time you can tell some embarrassing stories about Fuma and Yixiang. Do they make weird sounds or faces?”
“That information is staying between me and my mates,” Euijoo said.
“So they do,” Yuma said, grinning.
The tension eased in the room and the preparations continued.
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
Sunoo felt undeserving of sitting in the front row at the wedding. He barely knew Jo and Harua, but since he was Yudai’s betrothed, he had no choice. Sunoo’s kimono was beautiful and surprisingly comfortable. The silk was smooth against his skin and the waist wasn’t too snug like a corset would be. During the ceremony, he kept his gloved hand resting in the crook of Yudai’s elbow. Sunoo snuck glances up at him while Jo and Harua exchanged vows. His eyes were misty with unshed tears and his lips were pressed together. Sunoo tried his best not to smile. It was rare to see alphas show such open emotion, but he supposed that nothing about Yudai was very typical.
The woman holding the ceremony was an older omega with snow white hair that was intricately braided. She guided them through the ceremony, occasionally sharing words of advice. It was unlike any wedding ceremony that Sunoo had attended before.
“The Moon Goddess teaches that love, like the moon, has its cycles,” she said as she joined Jo and Harua’s clasped hands together with a golden ribbon. “It brightens, it hides, yet it never disappears. Jo and Harua, may you honor each turn of that cycle with patience and devotion.”
She continued with her sermon, going on about love, devotion, and the blessings of the Goddess. When she got to her closing line, she gestured for them to untie the ribbon around their hands themselves.
“And may the Moon Goddess guide your steps,” she said. “So that you may always find one another in shadow, in forest, and in every path where two hearts learn to run as one.”
The ceremony ended with Jo and Harua sharing a very brief kiss. Their cheeks both turned the same shade of pink when they parted. Sunoo thought that their combined sweetness was almost too much to bear. He didn’t know it was possible for two people to be so well suited for each other to the point where even their flushes were in sync.
Sunoo couldn’t help but to think of his own mating ceremony that would soon take place. It wouldn’t be as intimate and romantic as this one. Hundreds of people had been invited. Sunoo wouldn’t know the names or faces of the majority of guests. It would all be mostly for show.
After the ceremony, there was a reception that was just as private. Sunoo watched from the fringes of the garden as the pack members all danced and laughed with each other. There was no proper etiquette on display here. Shoes had been kicked off, jackets had been tossed to the side, and kimonos had even been traded for more comfortable dancing clothes. Sunoo hadn’t participated in the undressing at all.
It hadn’t rained today and the sky remained clear of any clouds, but Sunoo had a feeling that this union was still blessed by the Moon Goddess.
“Would you like to dance?” Yudai asked. He appeared at Sunoo’s side and offered him a small glass of wine. “I can tell them to behave if you’re intimidated by their… antics.”
Sunoo continued to watch as Taki, Niki, and Maki held hands as they ran in a circle around Yuma who was yelling at them to calm down. He then looked up at Yudai and saw his amused grin, the sparkle in his eye, and the way his foot was tapping like he was itching to join the chaos.
“You want to be right in the middle of that, don’t you?” Sunoo said. He glanced at the drink in his hand. Sunoo had tried alcohol for the first time just a few days ago. The taste was still something he had to get used to. He took a sip of the wine. It was impossibly sweet. “This is very good.”
“It’s umeshu,” Yudai said. “Wine made from steeped plums. I can make sure it’s served at our wedding as well.”
The mention of their wedding made Sunoo’s nerves come back to him. He had started to relax during the ceremony and now the reception. It had been almost peaceful, watching two people in love make their bond permanent. Now, he was reminded of his own fate.
“That would be nice,” Sunoo said.
“We can postpone,” Yudai said.
His words surprised Sunoo. The wedding date had been set. Guests had been invited and accommodations had been made. Besides, Sunoo’s reputation would suffer if the wedding was delayed. Rumors would spread. Was there something wrong with him? Why did the alpha king, who specifically requested Sunoo as his future mate, want to push the wedding to a later date?
Those were only the kindest potential rumors that Sunoo could think of. His experience of attending parties with his mother and Jungwon taught him that people loved meddling in the lives of other people, and they always came to the worst possible conclusion.
“No,” Sunoo said definitively. “Let’s keep the date. I’m ready.” He looked at Yudai and let a smirk tug at the corner of his lips. “Unless you need more time, hyung. Are you not ready?”
Yudai smiled back and the warmth of it gave Sunoo butterflies. He was a very handsome man. Sunoo liked to think that he wasn’t shallow when it came to the appearance of his alpha, but he had to admit that he enjoyed looking at Yudai. He was an alpha, but his facial features were soft and beautiful. Sunoo wanted to know what his mother looked like and if they were similar.
“I’m very ready,” Yudai said. “I just wanted to let you know that you have a choice. We can get married when you like.”
“Then let’s get married on the date that’s already been set,” Sunoo said. “I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”
“I don’t think you could inconvenience anyone, even if you tried,” Yudai said. “And if you managed to, that person should be so lucky to have you impact their life at all.”
“You flatter me too much,” Sunoo said, feeling his cheeks warm.
“You’ll have to get used to it,” Yudai said. “I plan on flattering you like this for the rest of our lives.”
It wasn’t the first time that Yudai had said something that explicitly mentioned their future. He was so casual about it too. Sunoo was surprised, even though he knew that he shouldn’t be. He was going to marry Yudai. Of course that meant they would spend the rest of their lives together.
Sunoo finished his wine and then offered his hand to Yudai.
“We can talk on the dancefloor, can’t we?” Sunoo said. “I’m sick of just standing here.”
Yudai grinned and took Sunoo’s hand. “Then let’s go dance.”
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
After Jo and Harua were happily mated, the two moved into one of the manors on the palace grounds. Yuma, Taki, Niki, and Maki were the only pack members who still lived in the palace. They were the loudest though, so the absence of Jo and Harua wasn’t felt that strongly.
Sunoo’s marriage to Yudai was only a couple of days away. He was waiting on the front steps of the palace with his hands folded in front of him. Sunoo was waiting for his family to arrive, as well as Jungwon and Heeseung.
That morning he had woken up before the sun had fully risen. Sunoo had gone to his balcony, watching the ocean waves and the sun slowly rise into its spot high in the sky. It had been so peaceful, and now all of that peace had left him.
His attendants had dressed him that morning in a simple silk ivory gown with an empire waist. He had matching silk wrist gloves on and a pearl circlet across his forehead. Yudai had kissed his gloved hand at breakfast and his eyes had lingered longer than usual, full of what Sunoo interpreted as appreciation.
The memory was enough to make him flush. Sunoo pressed his palms to his cheeks just as he heard the sound of wheels on cobblestones. He shook himself free from the memory and looked ahead to see a carriage coming toward him. Sunoo went down a few steps, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
When the carriage stopped, a servant stepped forward to open the door. Heeseung stepped out first. He offered his hand to Jungwon and helped him down from the carriage. Sunoo was already at the bottom of the steps before Jungwon’s feet could reach the ground.
“Won-ah!” Sunoo exclaimed as he rushed forward.
He didn’t care that yelling and running were terrible manners, especially from a king’s promised omega. Embracing his best friend was much more important than manners.
“Hyung,” Jungwon said once they embraced. He was wearing a hanbok and the full skirt created a slight barrier between them. They made it work though, still hugging as tightly as possible. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Sunoo said.
For the first time since he had arrived in Moriumi, Sunoo felt totally at ease. Jungwon’s presence was like a cure to all of his worries and nerves. He had someone by his side who would always stand by him no matter what. Jungwon’s unconditional love made him stronger.
“It's like a dream,” Jungwon said as he looked up at the palace. “I can't believe you live here now.”
“I can't believe it either sometimes,” Sunoo said. “It's been so different from home. But good different. Most of the time.”
“Most of the time?” Jungwon asked, his eyebrows lifting. “What does that mean?”
Sunoo opened his mouth to respond when he heard the sound of wheels on cobblestones again. His stomach dropped. He knew without looking that it was his parents.
“Come on,” Sunoo said, grabbing Jungwon's hand. “Let's go greet them.”
Sunoo saw his mother and father stepping out of their carriage. His mother was wearing a hanbok that Sunoo recognized. It was one of her favorites, made of deep purple silk with gold embroidery. His father wore a simple black suit.
“Eomma, Appa,” Sunoo said, bowing deeply to them.
His mother's eyes instantly filled with tears. She rushed forward and pulled Sunoo into her arms. He returned the embrace, but it felt stiff and uncomfortable. When was the last time his mother had hugged him like this? Sunoo couldn't remember.
“My son,” she said, pulling back to look at his face. Her hands came up to cup his cheeks and Sunoo could feel her emotions. Relief. Gratitude. Pride. But also guilt. “You look so well. So healthy. The sea air must agree with you.”
“It does,” Sunoo said. He gently pulled away from her touch. “Come inside. I'll show you to your rooms.”
His father shook his hand and that was the extent of their greeting. Sunoo led them into the palace with Jungwon and Heeseung trailing behind. A maid approached them and Sunoo asked her to show his parents to their guest quarters. They would be staying in the palace for the week leading up to the wedding and then for a few days after.
“We'll see you at dinner,” Sunoo's mother said. She squeezed his hand one more time, her eyes still watery. “I'm so proud of you, Sunoo.”
Sunoo nodded and watched as they followed the maid up the grand staircase. Once they were out of sight, Sunoo let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
“That was awkward,” Jungwon said.
“Incredibly,” Sunoo agreed.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jungwon asked.
“Not yet,” Sunoo said. He turned to look at Heeseung who was standing behind Jungwon, his head tilted back so that he could look at the ceiling. “Would you like to see your guest room too, hyung?”
It took Heeseung a moment to realize that Sunoo was talking to him.
“Yes, that’s fine,” Heeseung said. “I’m sure you two want to be alone so that you can catch up. I’ll see you both at dinner.”
Heeseung kissed Jungwon’s cheek and gave him a warm smile before he let a servant lead him up the staircase as well.
“Are you going to give me a tour?” Jungwon asked.
“Let's go back to my chambers first,” Sunoo said. “I want to hear about you and Heeseung. Has he proposed yet?”
Jungwon's face lit up like the sun and all thoughts of Sunoo's parents were pushed aside.
When they reached Sunoo’s room, they settled onto Sunoo's bed, sitting cross-legged and facing each other like they used to when they were children having sleepovers. Jungwon held out his hand, showing off the ring on his finger. It was simple but beautiful, a gold band with a small diamond that caught the afternoon light streaming through the windows. Two pearls framed the diamond and Sunoo smiled. Pearls were Jungwon’s favorite. He was glad that Heeseung had taken note of that.
“He proposed right before we left for Moriumi,” Jungwon said. His entire face was glowing with happiness. “He took me to the park where we had our first kiss and got down on one knee. I said yes before he could even finish asking the question.”
“Oh, Won-ah,” Sunoo said, reaching out to hold Jungwon's hand so he could look at the ring more closely. “I'm so happy for you. Tell me everything. What did he say? How did he look? I want every single detail.”
Jungwon launched into the story, describing how nervous Heeseung had been, how he had practiced his proposal speech at least fifty times, how he had dropped the ring twice before finally getting it on Jungwon's finger. Sunoo listened to every word, watching the way Jungwon's eyes sparkled when he talked about Heeseung.
This was what love looked like.
“I wish you could have been there,” Jungwon said. “It felt wrong, celebrating without you.”
“I'm here now,” Sunoo said. “And I'm so happy for you both. When's the wedding?”
“We haven't set a date yet,” Jungwon said. “We wanted to wait until after yours. This is your time, hyung. We don't want to take attention away from that.”
“You could never,” Sunoo said.
He appreciated the thoughtfulness though.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Jungwon's expression became more serious. He shifted closer to Sunoo and took both of his hands.
“Now,” Jungwon said. “Tell me about you and King Yudai. Are you happy? Really happy?”
Sunoo looked down at their joined hands. He wanted to take his gloves off. Jungwon had never hidden his emotions from Sunoo.
“I'm falling in love with him,” Sunoo said softly. “I think I might already be in love with him.”
“That's wonderful!” Jungwon said, squeezing his hands. “Why do you sound so sad about it?”
“Because I don't know if he feels the same,” Sunoo said. The words came tumbling out now that he had started. “He's kind to me. He's affectionate. We spend time together almost every day. We have these moments where it feels like we're the only two people in the world. But there's still this distance. Like he's holding something back. I don't know what it is.”
“Have you asked him?” Jungwon said.
“Not really,” Sunoo said. “I know that he has feelings for me. I know that he likes me and enjoys my company. We’re a good match. He chose me for a reason, but… I suppose I’m still worried that he won’t fall madly in love with me. Is that selfish?”
“Not at all,” Jungwon said.
“I know that he’s keeping something from me as well,” Sunoo said. “He told me that we’ve met before, but I don’t remember him at all.”
“And he won’t just tell you how you met?” Jungwon asked with a small frown.
“I haven’t directly asked him to,” Sunoo said. “But Won-ah, when I’ve touched him without my gloves, I felt what he was feeling. And it was affection. Honest, overwhelming love. So I know he cares about me. I just don't understand why he won't tell me everything.”
“Maybe he's scared,” Jungwon said. “Maybe whatever secret he's keeping, he's afraid it will drive you away.”
“That's what I thought too,” Sunoo said. “So I'm trying to be patient. But it's hard. I'm marrying him in two days and I feel like I still don't really know him.”
Jungwon pulled Sunoo into a tight hug. Sunoo finally decided to take off his gloves. He peeled them off before wrapping his arms around Jungwon. His fingertips touched Jungwon’s arms and he could feel worry and love. Jungwon’s emotions were always so genuine. Sunoo never had to decode them.
“You'll figure it out,” Jungwon said. “You're one of the most perceptive people I know. And if he really loves you, he'll tell you the truth eventually.”
“I hope so,” Sunoo said, burying his face in Jungwon's shoulder. “I really hope so.”
They stayed like that for a long moment. Then there was a knock on Sunoo's door. They pulled apart and Sunoo called out for whoever it was to enter.
A servant opened the door and bowed. “Young Master Sunoo, there are more guests here to see you. Master Sunghoon and Master Jongseong have arrived.”
“Sunghoon is here?” Sunoo said, surprised. He looked at Jungwon. “You didn't tell me he was coming.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Jungwon said with a smile. “Come on, let's go greet them.”
Sunghoon was Jungwon's older cousin. They looked similar and were both omegas, but their personalities were very different. Where Jungwon was soft and gentle, Sunghoon was sharp and direct. Sunoo had only met him a handful of times over the years, but he had always liked Sunghoon's straightforward nature.
When they reached the entrance hall, Sunoo saw Sunghoon stepping out of a carriage with considerable difficulty. He was heavily pregnant, his rounded stomach making it hard for him to navigate the carriage steps. His mate, Jongseong, was hovering beside him with his hands outstretched, ready to catch Sunghoon if he stumbled.
“I can walk on my own,” Sunghoon said, his tone sharp as he swatted Jongseong's hands away.
“I'm just trying to help,” Jongseong said.
He continued to hover near Sunghoon's side, not quite touching but ready at any moment.
“You're hovering,” Sunghoon said. He managed to get down the last step and then turned to glare at Jongseong. “I'm pregnant, not dying. I can handle stairs.”
“What if you trip?” Jongseong asked. “What if you fall? What if the baby–”
“Then I'll catch myself,” Sunghoon interrupted. But despite the annoyance in his voice, he reached out and took Jongseong's hand. “I promise I'll tell you if I need help. But right now, I don't. So please stop treating me like I'm made of glass.”
“I can't help it,” Jongseong said. “You're carrying our child. I just want to keep you both safe.”
Sunghoon's expression softened. He brought Jongseong's hand up to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “I know. And I love you for it. But you need to trust me to know my own limits.”
Sunoo watched the exchange with a strange mixture of envy and longing. They were so comfortable with each other. Even when they were bickering, it was clear how much they loved each other. Sunghoon could be annoyed with Jongseong and still look at him like he was the most important person in the world.
“Sunghoon-hyung!” Jungwon called out, rushing forward to greet his cousin.
Sunghoon's face broke into a genuine smile when he saw Jungwon. They embraced carefully, mindful of Sunghoon's stomach.
“Look at you,” Sunghoon said, pulling back to look at Jungwon's face. “You look happy. Lee Heeseung must be treating you well if it means you're smiling like this.”
“He’s very good to me, hyung,” Jungwon said. He lifted his left hand and showed off his engagement ring. “I’ve been waiting all week to show you this. I’m still upset that you took a different ship here.”
“We live on opposite sides of Wolha,” Sunghoon said. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to travel across the country and then across the ocean.” He inspected the ring, bringing it closely to his face and admiring it. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve an adoring alpha more than anyone.” Sunghoon’s eyes then slid to Sunoo. “And you. Look at you, all dressed up in your palace finery. You look good, Sunoo.”
“Thank you, hyung,” Sunoo said. “I'm so glad you could come.”
“I wouldn't miss it,” Sunghoon said. “Besides, I wanted to see this legendary palace for myself. And meet the king who was supposedly so smitten with you that he requested you specifically.”
“He’ll love to meet you too,” Sunoo said. “Yudai-hyung is very sociable.”
“So I’ve heard,” Sunghoon said with a smirk. “Jungwon's been writing to me. He’s been telling me everything that you’ve shared in your letters to him.”
“Hyung,” Jungwon groaned. “I haven’t told you everything. There are still plenty of secrets between just me and Sunoo.”
“Well, there is one thing that I want to learn that you didn’t mention in your letters,” Sunghoon said. He looked at Sunoo with assessing eyes. “Are you happy?”
It was such a direct question. So typically Sunghoon. Sunoo appreciated it.
“I am,” Sunoo said. “Or at least, I'm getting there.”
“Good,” Sunghoon said with a satisfied nod. “Because if this king of yours makes you unhappy, pregnant or not, I will find a way to make his life miserable.”
“Let’s not do that,” Jongseong said. “I really don’t want to make an enemy of a king.”
“Yudai-hyung wouldn’t make you an enemy for saying that,” Sunoo said. “He’d agree with you. The way he talks to me… I think he’d be the first to make his own life miserable if I was anything but content.”
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
The wedding rehearsal was held the next afternoon. Sunoo stood at the entrance to the grand ballroom, looking down the impossibly long aisle. Hundreds of chairs had been set up in perfect rows, all facing the raised platform at the front of the room. Even though this was just a rehearsal, the platform was already decorated with elaborate arrangements of white flowers and gold ribbons.
Sunoo's stomach churned with nerves.
“Young Master Sunoo,” a voice said behind him.
He turned to see the wedding coordinator approaching. She was an older beta woman with sharp, assessing eyes and an air of someone who had planned hundreds of weddings and wouldn't tolerate any deviation from her carefully laid plans.
“We're ready to begin,” she said. “If you'll follow me.”
Sunoo followed her down the aisle. His footsteps echoed in the vast, empty ballroom. Tomorrow, all of these chairs would be filled. Hundreds of people would be watching him walk down this aisle. Foreign dignitaries, nobility, important people from all over the world. The thought made Sunoo want to run.
“You'll start here,” the coordinator said, stopping him at the entrance. “You'll walk alone. The omega always walks alone in Moriumi weddings.”
“Alone?” Sunoo asked. “My father won't walk me down the aisle?”
“No,” the coordinator said. “In Moriumi tradition, the omega walks alone to symbolize that they are choosing their mate of their own free will. They are not being given away. They are choosing to give themselves.”
Sunoo thought about that. He liked the idea, actually. This was the choice that he had made. Even if it hadn't started that way, even if his parents' debt had forced his hand initially, he was choosing this now. He was choosing Yudai.
“You'll walk at a slow, measured pace,” the coordinator continued. “Eyes forward. When you reach the platform, you'll stop in front of King Yudai and bow to each other. Then the officiant will begin the ceremony.”
She walked Sunoo through the rest of the ceremony step by step. Stand here, bow here, speak these words, exchange these rings. It all felt very rehearsed and scripted. Like Sunoo was an actor in a play rather than a person about to commit his life to someone.
“The vows are traditional,” the coordinator said, handing Sunoo a piece of paper with words written on it. “These are the vows that have been spoken at royal weddings for centuries. You'll need to memorize them.”
Sunoo looked down at the paper and read the words. “I, Kim Sunoo, take you, Koga Yudai, to be my bonded mate. I promise to honor you, to support you, to stand by your side. I pledge my loyalty to you from this day forward, for as long as we both shall live.”
The words were beautiful, formal, traditional, but they weren't his words. They didn't say anything about how Sunoo felt. About how Yudai made him laugh or how his heart raced every time Yudai smiled at him or how Sunoo was falling more in love with him every single day.
“Can I write my own vows?” Sunoo asked.
The coordinator looked at him like he had just suggested setting the palace on fire. “Absolutely not. Royal weddings use traditional vows. It's expected.”
“But–”
“No exceptions,” the coordinator said firmly. “Now, let's continue.”
They ran through the ceremony twice more. By the third time, Sunoo had the movements memorized even if his heart wasn't in them. This wedding wasn't for him and Yudai. It was for everyone else. For the people who needed to see their king properly mated. It was for the foreign dignitaries who needed to be impressed. It was for everyone but Sunoo, it seemed like.
Yudai arrived just as they were finishing up the third run-through. He was wearing his crown and a formal suit, clearly having come from some important meeting.
“I'm sorry I'm late,” Yudai said, addressing the coordinator. “I was delayed.”
“It's quite all right, Your Majesty,” the coordinator said, bowing deeply. “We've just finished. Young Master Sunoo knows all of his marks.”
Yudai's eyes found Sunoo's across the ballroom. Even from this distance, Sunoo could see the warmth in them.
“How are you feeling?” Yudai asked once the coordinator had left them alone.
“Overwhelmed,” Sunoo said. He gestured to the ballroom around them. “This is all so much.”
“I know,” Yudai said. He walked closer until they were standing just a few steps apart. “I'm sorry it has to be like this. You deserve the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.”
“It's fine,” Sunoo said, even though it wasn't really. “You're a king. This is what's expected.”
“Expectations,” Yudai said. He looked around at the elaborate decorations, the hundreds of empty chairs. “Sometimes I hate them.”
They stood in silence for a moment. Then Yudai held out his hand.
“Walk with me?” he asked.
Sunoo placed his gloved hand in Yudai's and let himself be led out of the ballroom, through the palace corridors, and out into the gardens.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange and purple. Yudai led Sunoo to a spot by the pond where the swans nested. They sat down on a bench together, close enough that their arms just barely brushed.
“Tomorrow,” Yudai said softly. “Tomorrow you'll be my mate.”
“I will,” Sunoo said.
His heart was pounding. Sunoo twisted his hands together in his lap.
“Are you afraid?” Yudai asked.
“A little,” Sunoo said. “Are you?”
“Terrified,” Yudai said. He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Not of marrying you. Never of that. I'm afraid that I won't be a good enough mate for you. That I won't make you happy.”
Sunoo turned to look at Yudai. In the fading light, his face was half in shadow. “You make me happy now.”
“Do I?” Yudai asked.
He sounded uncertain, vulnerable in a way Sunoo had never heard before.
“Yes,” Sunoo said. He reached up and cupped Yudai's face. “You make me happier than I've been in a long time.”
Yudai leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. “I want to make you happy for the rest of your life.”
“Then do,” Sunoo said simply.
Yudai opened his eyes and looked at Sunoo with such intensity that Sunoo felt his breath catch. Slowly, giving Sunoo plenty of time to pull away, Yudai leaned closer. His hand came up to cup Sunoo's cheek, mirroring Sunoo's gesture.
Sunoo's eyes fluttered closed. This was it. They were finally going to kiss.
But at the last second, Yudai's lips brushed against Sunoo's forehead instead of his mouth. It was soft and gentle and achingly tender. But it wasn't a kiss. Not really. Sunoo opened his eyes, unable to hide his disappointment.
The touch of Yudai’s lips against his forehead was enough for Sunoo to feel a brief flash of longing. It was silent confirmation that Yudai’s feelings for him mirrored what Sunoo felt.
“I'm sorry,” Yudai said, pulling back. “I want to kiss you. I want to so badly it hurts. But I want our first real kiss to be after we're married. I want it to mean something.”
“It would mean something now,” Sunoo said.
“I know,” Yudai said. “But tomorrow, when we're officially mates, when we've made our vows in front of everyone, when there's no doubt that we belong to each other, then I'll kiss you properly. And it will be perfect.”
Sunoo wanted to argue. He wanted to tell Yudai that he didn't care about perfect; he just wanted to feel Yudai's lips against his. But when he looked into Yudai's eyes, he saw such determination there. Such conviction that he was doing the right thing.
“Okay,” Sunoo said. “Tomorrow then.”
They sat together in comfortable silence, watching the sunset. The sky turned from pink to purple to deep blue. Stars began to appear overhead. The moon rose, nearly full, casting silver light across the gardens.
“Hyung,” Sunoo said eventually. “Can I tell you something?”
“Anything,” Yudai said.
“I'm falling in love with you,” Sunoo said. The words came out in a rush, like if he didn't say them all at once he'd lose his nerve. “I don't know when it started or how it happened, but I am. I'm falling in love with you and it terrifies me because I don't know if you feel the same way.”
Yudai was quiet for a long moment. Long enough that Sunoo started to panic. He had said too much and been too vulnerable.
“Sunoo,” Yudai said, his voice rough. “I care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone. What I feel for you is more than I've ever felt for anyone in my entire life. You have to believe that.”
“But?” Sunoo prompted, because he could hear it in Yudai's voice.
“But there are things you don't know about me,” Yudai said. “Things I need to tell you. Important things. And I'm afraid that when you know the truth, you won't want me anymore.”
“Tell me now,” Sunoo said. “Whatever it is, just tell me.”
“I can't,” Yudai said. “Not tonight. Not the night before our wedding. I don't want to ruin this. I don't want to risk losing you before I've even had the chance to truly have you.”
“You won't lose me,” Sunoo said.
“You don't know that,” Yudai said. “You can't promise that when you don't know what I need to tell you.”
“Then when?” Sunoo asked. “When will you tell me?”
“After the wedding,” Yudai promised. He took both of Sunoo's hands in his. “On our honeymoon. When we're alone. When we have time. I'll tell you everything then. I'll give you all of me, Sunoo. Every part, even the parts I'm afraid you won't like. I promise you that.”
Sunoo looked into Yudai's eyes and saw fear there. Real, genuine fear. Yudai was terrified of whatever truth he was holding. He was terrified that it would drive Sunoo away.
“All right,” Sunoo said. “I'll wait. But hyung, you need to trust that I'm not going anywhere. Whatever you tell me, we'll deal with it together.”
Yudai pulled Sunoo into his arms and held him tightly. Sunoo pressed his face against Yudai's chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat. They stayed like that until the air around them grew cold with a chill and a strong wind that had to come from the ocean.
“We should go inside,” Yudai said eventually. “You need to rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
They walked back to the palace hand in hand. The walk through the palace was silent as they went up staircases and arrived at the hallway with their chambers. Yudai’s room was in one direction and Sunoo’s in the other.
“Tomorrow,” Yudai said. “Tomorrow you'll be mine. And I'll be yours. But there's no rush for anything else. We have our whole lives.”
Sunoo didn't fully understand what Yudai meant by that, but he nodded anyway.
“Good night, Sunoo,” Yudai said.
He brought Sunoo's gloved hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Good night, hyung,” Sunoo said.
Sunoo watched Yudai walk away until he reached his chamber doors and entered. Then Sunoo made his way to his own chambers, his heart full of hope and fear and love all tangled together.
Tomorrow, he would marry Yudai.